Time
Tactile symbols representing elements of time made with diamond shaped poster board with the top point clipped off. The backing includes materials such as foil, contact paper, and netting material. The shape is the most important, but the backing can vary depending on what materials you have and what the child can tactually discriminate. Using different backings to form smaller categories can be helpful . For example, you will see that months of the year have foil backing while the days of the week have netting. Just remember, touch is the sense primarily in use so the texture of the material should be distinct.
This 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.
Shape: diamond with top point clipped off
Background: various materials such as netting, foil, contact paper
Days of the Week
Shape of symbol: Diamond shape with top point clipped off.
Backing material: Netting
Time – Seasons
Shape of symbol: Diamond shape with top point clipped off. Diamond
Backing material: Poster board
Months
Shape of symbol: Diamond shape with top point clipped off.
Backing material: foil.
Time – Informal Time of Day
Shape of symbol: Diamond shape with top point clipped off.
Backing material: poster board.
Note: Since these were designed for use in school, we do not have a picture for symbols for evening or night. When creating your own symbol for these time concepts use the same shape and backing material. Consider using other shapes in the center such as a square, zig-zag, or curve or some other type of material such as a pipe cleaner or puff paint.
Time Clock Units
Shape of symbol: Diamond shape with top point clipped off.
Backing Material: Contact Paper
