People

Tactile symbol for sister is a gold ring with a sponge-shaped heart inside and a bow at the bottom on the circle.
Tactile symbol for sister is a gold ring with a sponge-shaped heart inside and a bow at the bottom on the circle.

Tactile symbols representing people are made with circle-shaped poster board. Various backgrounds could be added, although none are used in these examples. The shape is the most important, but the backing can vary depending on what materials you have and what the child can tactually discriminate. 

Note: These symbols are the ones utilized at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, so they reflect that social environment. You may need to create symbols or adapt symbols specific to the environment of the student.

If you are starting from scratch with a symbol, try to pick something that will make sense to the student. As you look at the symbols you will see that some are based on visual information and some on possible tactile information.  It is important to consider the individual’s perspective when creating the symbol. These symbols are highly abstract so it is important to note his/her visual and tactile access when designing the symbol. A part or a piece of an object often works. By necessity, however,  some symbols have to be arbitrary, because there is no obvious item to place on the symbol. When that’s the case, the student will learn the meaning through repeated association.

Shape: circle-shaped

Background: poster board

Family

Tactile symbol for brother is a gold ring with a heart-shaped sponge inside and a marble glued to the bottom right of the gold ring.
Tactile symbol for brother is a gold ring with a heart-shaped sponge inside and a marble glued to the bottom right of the gold ring.
Tactile symbol for father is a piece of cloth cut to resemble a necktie glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for father is a piece of cloth cut to resemble a necktie glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for family is a ring of gold glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for family is a ring of gold glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for grandmother is a heart-shaped piece of sponge glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for grandmother is a heart-shaped piece of sponge glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for mother is a heart-shaped piece of sponge inside a gold ring glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for mother is a heart-shaped piece of sponge inside a gold ring glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for grandfather is a heart-shaped piece of sponge inside a gold ring with a piece of cloth resembling a necktie on the right of the ring.
Tactile symbol for grandfather is a heart-shaped piece of sponge inside a gold ring with a piece of cloth resembling a necktie on the right of the ring.
Tactile symbol for sister is a heart-shaped piece of sponge inside a gold ring with a ribbon bow underneath.
Tactile symbol for sister is a heart-shaped piece of sponge inside a gold ring with a ribbon bow underneath.

People On-Campus at TSBVI

Tactile symbol for class is a c-shaped plastic piece glued in the center of the circle poster board.
Tactile symbol for class is a c-shaped plastic piece glued in the center of the circle poster board.
Tactile symbol for the school doctor is a short piece of q-tip glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for the school doctor is a short piece of q-tip glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for the school nurse is a medicine cup glued to the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for the school nurse is a medicine cup glued to the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for a substitute teacher is 1/2 of a textured craft stick glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for a substitute teacher is 1/2 of a textured craft stick glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for classroom teacher is a tiny book of Post-It notes glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for classroom teacher is a tiny book of Post-It notes glued in the center of the poster board circle.

Other People

Tactile symbol for the audiologist is a spiral of glue or puff paint drawn on the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for the audiologist is a spiral of glue or puff paint drawn on the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for the bus driver is a steering wheel shape drawn in glue or puff paint on the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for the bus driver is a steering wheel shape drawn in glue or puff paint on the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for dentist is the head of a toothbrush glued in the center for the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for dentist is the head of a toothbrush glued in the center for the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for ear doctor is the piece of a device that is placed inside the ear during an examination glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for ear doctor is the piece of a device that is placed inside the ear during an examination glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for eye doctor is an eye-shape drawn in glue or puff paint in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for eye doctor is an eye-shape drawn in glue or puff paint in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for farmer is a piece of denim with a button glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for farmer is a piece of denim with a button glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for fireman is a ring-sized piece of a garden hose glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for fireman is a ring-sized piece of a garden hose glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for a garden center worker is an artificial leaf glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for a garden center worker is an artificial leaf glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for mailman is a stamp-shaped piece of craft foam cut with pinking sheers glued in the center of the circle.
Tactile symbol for mailman is a stamp-shaped piece of craft foam cut with pinking sheers glued in the center of the circle.
Tactile symbol for an office worker is six thumb-tack heads glued in a ring in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for an office worker is six thumb-tack heads glued in a ring in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for police officer is a badge-shaped piece of tinsel pipe cleaner glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for police officer is a badge-shaped piece of tinsel pipe cleaner glued to the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for store clerk is an "S" drawn with glue or puff paint in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for store clerk is an “S” drawn with glue or puff paint in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for trash collector is a piece of a plastic bag glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for trash collector is a piece of a plastic bag glued in the center of the poster board circle.
Tactile symbol for vocational supervisor is a piece of shoe lace formed in a v-shape glued to the center of the poster board.
Tactile symbol for vocational supervisor is a piece of shoe lace formed in a v-shape glued to the center of the poster board.