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Calculators and Maths Solutions

The increased use of graphing and/or programmable calculators, particularly at senior school years, can cause difficulties for students who are blind or who have low vision. Issues may include:

accessing the small print of the calculator input keypad, particularly the features associated with the function keys

accessing the display, especially the more complex features such as the programming functions

Several options are outlined below:

basic stand alone calculator: may be quite suitable for younger students. There are many basic calculators with large print keypads, clear displays and/or voice output which are available from electronics and calculator shops or from outlets specialising in resources for people with vision impairments such as Equipment Solutions (03) 9864 9200. Students with low vision may be able to successfully access the calculator in conjunction with a hand magnifier or a electronic magnification unit.

basic and scientific calculator software: can be found on most PCs and Apple computers, downloaded from the internet for free, or purchased. This software can also be used in conjunction with screen reading and/or enlarging software for enhanced access.

connecting stand alone calculator to a computer: some scientific and/or graphing calculators can be connected via a cable to a computer, monitor or television screen for improved access for students with low vision.

graphing: may be performed by students with low vision utilising calculator emulator software on their laptop. Students may perform calculations and produce graphs using their laptop computer with Microsoft Excel, Graphmatica or software specifically written for people with vision impairments such as Audio Graphing Calculator. The graphs may then be:

interpreted using auditory cues and/or announced co-ordinates

interpreted visually via hand magnifier or computer enlargement software or

produced in tactual form as a raised line diagram

braille/voice calculator access: several specialised notetakers including BrailleNote, PAC Mate etc include an accessible scientific calculator.

It is important to trial the calculator and/or computer software with the student prior to purchase. Further information and product comparisons can also be found on the “Math Technology” page of the Texas School for the Blind website.

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List of Suppliers

Model and Supplier	Price	Input	Output	Functions
Abacus - Crammer Equipment Solutions	A$50	Beads on rods	Beads on rods	13 rod abacus with tactile markings for simple calculations
Audio Graphing Calculator HumanWare	A$425	Keyboard navigation Onscreen keypad	Self-voicing including menus Tactile output options Scalable visual display Print equations and graphs Description of graph shape through audio tones and cues	PC: software Scientific graphing calculator Import data from Excel and other programs
Audiocalc MaxiAids	US$700-$745	3 distinctive levels of keys Black on yellow & yellow on red	LCD display Voice response for all keys	Stand alone talking scientific calculator Business version available (+$) 9V rechargeable battery
Graphmatica kSoft	Download free trial version US$25 + P&H Multi-user licence available	Keyboard or mouse	Equation, axis and up to 25 graph lines No speech	PC: graphing software Equation plotter Different colours Zoom function
Large Print Talking Scientific Calculator Equipment Solutions	A$600	Clear keys	Large print LED display	Stand alone calculator for low vision users
Math Flash APH	Free demo download US$24	Keyboard or mouse	Voice - human speech Print on screen	PC: maths problems Voiced instructions, drills and practice sessions Degree of difficulty can be individualised 6 years and up
Microsoft Equation Editor	Free with Win98+	Keyboard or mouse - see menu for mathematical symbols	Print on screen - can be enlarged	PC: write equations using the many symbols in the menu
RNIB Talking Scientific Calculator Equipment Solutions	A$625	Key pad with large high contrast print and tactual buttons	Natural voice One model has visual display	Stand alone talking scientific calculator
Talking Calculator Spectronics	$A39	Key pad - low contrast	Voice and visual display	Stand alone talking calculator for basic calculations
Talking Desktop Calculator with Earphone Equipment Solutions	A$52 Other models available A$18+	Key pad	Female voice	Stand alone talking calculator for general arithmetic calculations
Virtual Pencil HenterMath	Arithmetic - US$199 + P&H Algebra - US$399 + P&H	Keyboard or mouse	Adjustable size and colour Compatible with screen reader for voice output	PC: software Designed to allow vision impaired, motor impaired or learning disabled students access to maths Two versions - Arithmetic (more simple) and Algebra
Windows Standard Calculator and Scientific Calculator	Free with Windows 98+	Keyboard and mouse	Red, blue and black print on white background Enlarge with enlargement software	PC: calculator software Find in Start - Programs - Accessories - Calculator For Scientific, go to View - Scientific

List of Suppliers
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Website editor Deb Lewis , Statewide Vision Resource Centre - Victoria, Australia. Last updated November 2009.
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