Year of people with Disabilities

Objective : discussion on the euro Type of visual impairment : blind and/or partially sighted
For : group
Age : all ages

Six Coffees and the Euro

• The single European currency could act as a catalyst for a dialogue between people from different countries, lending a new quality to the discussion. A conversation comparing prices, for example, could develop into something much broader
  
  
• We wanted to show older (visually impaired) people dealing naturally with the euro, without being pushy or preachy.
  
  
• ...and, of course, this play should contribute to reinforcing the sense of a common European identity.
  
  

• private reading (reflecting on the subject of the euro)
  
• use as a basis for group discussion by older people
  
• use as a model for role-playing (directly or as a radio play, for example)
  
  

• The euro - more than just a means of payment ?
• What springs mainly to mind when you think about the forthcoming transition to the new currency ?
• Have you ever thought about the differences in prices in the various euro countries ?
• Is there a euro country whose living environment you would particularly like to study in more detail ?
• Would you like to see more collaboration in European old (visually impaired) people's work ?

Conversation over a cup of coffee"

Objective: the history of currency
Type of visual impairment : blind and/or partially sighted people
Type of training : individual / class
Age : from 8 years

Si l'Euro m'était compté/conté
(If the Euro was recounted to me)

Use of the book "Si l'Euro m'était compté/conté"
Thierry Vissol, Jean-Marc Coller

Objective : adapting a game to a visual handicap
Type of visual handicap : blind and/or partially sighted

How to adapt games to visual impairment

• games involving tactile, aural, olfactory or sensory recognition ;
• logic games: Chinese puzzle, etc.;
• handling and construction games: Lego, Duplo, beads, etc.;
• handling of musical instruments.
  
  

• Observing the game :
  
  Some games with complicated motifs or methods are not accessible. It is difficult to represent actions, monuments, paintings etc. in a tactile manner, even symbolically.
  
  Preferably :
  - the playing area should be open (large squares) ;
  - colours should be contrasting ;
  - illustrations should be simple ;
  - there should not be too much text (Braille and large writing take up more space than ordinary writing) ;
  - tokens should be large ;
  - objects or figures should be recognisable by touch.
  
  It should be noted that if a game has all these characteristics at the outset, it will be accessible to some partially-sighted persons. The game should be submitted to them and their opinion asked.
  
  
• Testing the rules :
  
  Apart from their reading format, the complexity of the rules must be considered; they may affect the pleasure of playing if they require too great an effort of concentration on the part of the visually impaired player.
  
  This is an effort which is not required from sighted players and which is therefore not part of the aims of the game.
  
  
  

• This will be either magnetic or covered with lugs, small projections or strips of Velcro to prevent the tokens falling over (the tokens will be changed accordingly).
  
  
• The squares will be large and their contours well-defined :
  - by contrasting the colours (partially sighted);
  - by attaching tabs or wires or using special markers to produce a raised line.
  
  
• If the board has a check pattern, the depth of certain squares may be altered or they may be covered in different textiles.

• colours must be contrasted;
  
• contours must be darkened;
  
• the format must be made larger;
• symbols must be replaced by shapes covered with different textures or raised patterns;
  
• the contour of the "subject" must be highlighted if its representation is significant (not too small, not too much detail);
  
• a three-dimensional element must be added which is recognisable by touch (objects, animals, etc.);
  
• images which are too abstract or complicated, such as actions, occupations, etc., must be symbolised.
  

• magnetic, or with a peg, a hole or Velcro;
  
• easy to handle. Provide larger tokens if they are too small;
  
• recognisable by touch: if the representation given by the token (figurine, fruit, etc.) is not sufficiently explicit, we would advise the use of Braille markers, the sticking on of different textures, the scoring or sculpting of surfaces, the replacement of the tokens by tokens of different shapes, making holes in some tokens if the game permits.

• add elements for recognition as with the tokens (cf. H) ;
• create one's own dice, paying attention to their solidity and mobility;
• purchase suitable dice (different sizes, with concave or convex spots). These are available from a number of associations.

• adding text in Braille or in large characters;
• including tactile illustrations (cf. G.2) ;
• cutting off one or more corners and cutting the edges in a distinctive manner.

• It is preferable to use a spacious playing table
  
  
• The acoustic environment should not be too noisy
  
  
• Adaptations should be in line with the age and handicap of the player
  
  
• Use solid equipment
  
  
• Think about testing and evaluating plans for adaptations
  
  
• Do not overestimate the effort required to adapt a game. Sometimes a few simple markers are enough to make it accessible
  
  
• The use of several forms of adaptation (Braille + large characters + tactile + colours) means it can be used by all categories of people (visually impaired or not)
  
  
• Some adapted games are available commercially.

LIST OF EXISTING EQUIPMENT

• Collect eight : game aimed at identifying euro coins ;
  
  
• the Basket : game aimed at learning the value in euro of a basket of household goods, and at learning certain characteristics of euro notes ;
  
  
• the Market : game aimed at learning the value in euro of a "basket of household goods" and learning to count in euro; only available in French and English ; the rules are available in all languages ;
  
  
• Euro Vision : brochure with detailed descriptions of euro notes and coins, adapted for visually handicapped people: includes their identifying characteristics but also, and especially, the motifs on them; the brochure is available in four formats: large type, Braille, audio and diskette ;
  
  
• Euro Tactile : tactile guide to euro notes; guidance notes in English and French only, on paper and on cassette; the notice and the drawings are available, ready for printing on swelling paper, on our Website ;
  
  
• Euro Trainers' Notes : a teaching guide intended for trainers, listing the objectives and describing activities for discovering the euro, together with a series of educational points; available in standard print, in large type, on diskette and on our Website ; partially available in Braille ;
  
  
• Report on interviews and tests in handling replica euro coins and notes carried out among 300 blind or partially sighted people in Germany, Belgium and Spain; this report is available in English on paper, on diskette and on our Website ; the essential elements relating to handling are contained in the Euro Trainers' Notes ;
  
  
• Information booklet and call for cooperation, containing the reasons for and aims of our action as well as our current and future activities; available in standard print, on diskette and on our Website ;
  
  
• Specifications relating to vocal euro converters, drawn up in cooperation with the Technical Commission of the European Blind Union; this document is available only in English ;
  
  
• Document listing the minimum characteristics to be met by replica euro coins and notes; available in English ;
  
  
• Video cassette (tool not specific to the EBU) : The Euro: it's child's play !
  
  
• Si l'Euro m'était compté/conté ((Re)counting the euro), Thierry Vissol ; book available in French, on paper and in Grade II Braille; English text also available on paper (tool not specific to the EBU).
  
  

• Cash test : small plastic gauge for identifying euro notes and coins on the basis of their dimensions
  
  
• Vocal euro converters : there are some of these already, which are very expensive and/or unsuitable; we know of at least one prototype which meets our specifications at a reasonable price; however, it could only be produced (in all languages and for all national currencies) for a European market of at least 50 000 converters.