Partially sighted players, how can we include them?

[Noctis]

Hiya.

I was thinking the other day, I have a friend who is partially sighted and through my eagerness to play has infected him

I've always thought he is capable of playing anything other people can, but I must admit I'm a bit stumped with BB, I was thinking maybe using like a magnectic board, which would be like a mini board in his hands so he can feel where everyone is on it, slighty different shapes for Blitzers, runners, etc etc

He has amazing memory so remembers alot with his stats and thought a backup with braille for some rules etc etc..

However I want to see if there are any bright sparks out there?

Any ideas guys and gals? Don't worry if you think it's silly any idea is good

Thanks

Noctis

[Mo]

I was thinking maybe using like a magnectic board, which would be like a mini board in his hands so he can feel where everyone is on it, slighty different shapes for Blitzers, runners, etc etc

The shapes are a good idea. Maybe use two different heights to distinguish the two teams? Use the Slater plasticard numbers on top and/or add little lumps of putty to make standard braille numbers?

Good luck!
Maureen

[Noctis]

Thats a cool idea!

I'm bouncing ideas off him, as it'll proberly get customized for his use.

But that is deffo one for the "bouncing" off him

Thanks.

Noctis

[IONDragonX]

^^^ Maybe you could try using proxies for the models. All you would have to do is put braille info on some kind of playing peices. Allow him to read the tops so he knows where everything is. Its seems a lot less complicated than to modify existing models.

[zephard]

The smaller hand held board with a raised grid will be a good thing.

You say he is partially sighted, as in he has some perifial (sp?) or what kind of partial?

Almost all partial sighted and fully blind that I have met have excellent memeories, for they rely on them more than we do.

If you braille the numbers and a letter to state what kinda of player it is then that would tell you what size pieces you need to make and how wide the grid would need to be. This "hand held" magnetic board for him, is going to be bigger than one will think, for braille is a standard size, as I remember.

Another thing, is one would want to have both his and his oppeents rosters in braille to refer back to on occasion.

I be pleased to hear if you can accomidate him. And how it goes.

[GalakStarscraper]

The metal sheet in an Impact! carrying case combined with the magnets they sell and the Slater's numbers and letters might be a good way to create the side board.

Not trying to get a sale ... its just a thought of where you could easily get the raw materials you are looking for.

I dont' think the magnets would have too much attraction to have this work correctly.

Galak

[Xtreme]

Another option would be to have a cork board for the pitch, with some kind of raised markings for the squares. Then proxy wine corks with a tack on the bottom and raised letters on the top for the players.

[Noctis]

Some fantastic ideas here, I'll have a bash at some of the easier ideas as mentioned see how that goes, if it has some success I'll start building up on it.

Thanks guys and gals!

Noctis

[GalakStarscraper]

Another option would be to have a cork board for the pitch, with some kind of raised markings for the squares. Then proxy wine corks with a tack on the bottom and raised letters on the top for the players.

I like this idea a lot ... cork boards are cheap and easy to come by and easily cut into to add the tack part.

Galak

[IONDragonX]

Another option would be to have a cork board for the pitch, with some kind of raised markings for the squares. Then proxy wine corks with a tack on the bottom and raised letters on the top for the players.

I like this idea a lot ... cork boards are cheap and easy to come by and easily cut into to add the tack part.

It seems like a good idea, but wouldn't cork break apart after a few games? I would guess that it would. Especially the line of scrimmage.

[Xtreme]

It doesn't have to look pretty.

Cork is cheap enough that you can afford to replace it. Though I think if it was mounted to something (small piece of would) it would last for a fair amount of games. It will just be small tack holes, nothing that should tear it up to bad.

[Mo]

All of the office supply stores and even the craft stores around here sell mounted and framed cork bulletin boards. The 2' x 3' ones are a perfect size for a pitch, dugouts, etc. And the 18" x 24" ones are a great size for a 7s pitch.

Cheers,
Maureen

[Noctis]

I have a HUGE favour to ask?

The corkboard idea comes across as sound. Would anyone be willing to try a miniture test of how they made this? and then relay to me how it went?

I'm struggling a bit with the braille at the moment, working with him to find good "short hand" easy to read, fast to read etc etc.

I know it's cheeky, but no harm in asking?

If anyone does I'll let you have the copyright and name it whatever you want

Thought I'd ask.

Noctis

[Xtreme]

Easiest thing may be to forget the braille, and use the 'Slaters Letters'. Impact sells them.

[Noctis]

I'll suggest it to him, as naturally he deserves full inclusion (that the right word?) I'm doing it with a chunk of the rules at the moment, mostly skills etc..

Kindda playing it like "Battleship" at the moment ie: "Move player in 2C to 3D" time consuming but bloody brillant, he evern named it BlindBowl, it was funny at the time