Study of the Experience of Children’s Toys for Low-Vision and Blindness

Guidelines for Designing an Enjoyable Toy for Visually Impaired Children with the Goal of Aiding in Various Areas of Their Early Childhood Development
POST_M~1
Guidelines for Designing an Enjoyable Toy for Visually Impaired Children with the Goal of Aiding in Various Areas of Their Early Childhood Development
Lizeth Sustaita-Delgado, Byungsoo Kim
Kansas State University

Study of the Experience of Children’s Toys for Low-Vision and Blindness

Guidelines for Designing an Enjoyable Toy for Visually Impaired Children with the Goal of Aiding in Various Areas of Their Early Childhood Development
POST_M~1

This study examines ways to design better experiences for children’s toys for those with low-vision or blindness in an educational setting. Children with visual impairments often have difficulty interacting with traditional toys, which can impede their learning and development. By designing toys that are accessible and engaging for children with visual impairments, industrial designers have the potential to greatly aid these children’s learning and development. Strategies to make toys more accessible for VI children include incorporating tactile features, utilizing audio cues, and providing braille labeling. Previous studies have emphasized the importance of considering a child’s input when choosing a toy, and the role of adults in selecting toys that align with their values and promote learning. Additionally, designers can investigate new technologies like haptic feedback and voice recognition to create a more immersive and interactive experience. Sound augmentation is another avenue that can be explored for designing educational toys for children who are blind or have low vision. In addition to the results of literature review, the data from user interviews is presented in this paper to address the needs of the target users. This study highlights the importance of considering the needs of children with visual impairments and the opportunities for industrial designers to create innovative, fun and educational solutions.

Year: 2023