Monash University Releases First Guide on 3D Printing for Blind and Low-Vision People

Prosthetics, hearing aids, and wheelchairs — these are just a few of the numerous tools that can be customized and improved thanks to 3D printing technology, benefiting people with disabilities. 3D printing can serve blind or low vision people too, with the creation of tactile objects that carry information. Items that can be 3D printed, like educational models, a map or a replica of an art piece, allow people to learn through touch. However, special consideration must be taken when designing a 3D print specifically for blind or low-vision people. That’s why researchers at Melbourne’s Monash University have shared new guidelines to create 3D printed educational and other accessible tools to support people with “print disabilities.”

In Monash University’s press statement, Leona Holloway from the Faculty of Information Technology said that the free guidelines are specifically designed for people with “print disabilities.” This means those who are not only blind or have low vision, but also those with physical disabilities limiting their ability to interact with 2D materials, those unable to follow a line of print or those with a disability that impacts their concentration.

3D prints for use in the classroom. (Photo credits: Monash University, from “The Guidelines for Producing Accessible Prints”)

Importantly, “The Guidelines for Producing Accessible Prints” are free for the public, and they can help teachers, parents and specialists create inclusive and engaging tactile models. This could include educational materials like braille learning aids, curriculum-based models such as historical artifacts, landforms or anatomy, math aids, educational games or adaptive tools.