SCOE Students Test New Tactile Tour at Schulz Museum

08/30/2018 -

This August, three visually impaired students served by the Sonoma County Office of Education visited the Charles M. Schulz Museum to test out a new verbal description and tactile tour meant to give those who are blind or have low vision the opportunity to enjoy the comics created by Charles Schulz.

Three students visited the museum along with their teachers and assistive technology specialists to try out tactile materials, Braille comics, and raised comics to help the museum prepare for its Accessibility Day Tour, which will take place on Sept. 23. Students also gave feedback on the overall mobility in the museum, the progression of the tour, and the value of the information presented to those with visual impairments.

"We love creating partnerships in our area and this one is extra special," said SCOE Teacher for the Visually Impaired Leslie Edmonds. "The students were rock stars and gave great, constructive feedback."

She added that students really liked the tactile comics (which were done by the Lighthouse for the Blind MAD Lab in San Francisco). The students were not familiar with comics and learned a lot about how they were made and what they looked like.

"They went from not knowing what Snoopy looks like to having a really good idea when they left based on manipulatives the museum had," Edmonds shared. "We are really excited to team up with such an incredible local landmark. They are really trying to make the museum accessible to all visitors!"

The museum will host an Accessible Tours Day on Sept. 23, 2018 designed for those who are blind, low vision, deaf, or hard of hearing. More information is available on this Accessible Tours Day flier.