Hello, I’m Dr. José Manolo Álvarez, and I’m passionate about Braille, technology, and coding!
As a blind person, and based on my personal and professional experience, I have often observed that many blind students struggle to master basic skills in science, mathematics, technology, and engineering (STEM) due to the highly visual nature of these subjects and the lack of accessible alternatives to support their learning.
As a professor of assistive technology courses at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), I have developed various educational tools based on the use of Braille displays to promote access to STEM for blind students in a simple and non-intimidating way. Braille is essential for blind students in STEM, as it enables them to access, understand, and manipulate scientific, mathematical, and technical information independently through a precise and structured tactile format.
Over the years, I have developed projects such as video games for blind students, educational software for Windows, and apps for Android, iPhone, and iPad. However, on this Inclusion STEM website, I will be sharing the projects I’m currently developing, which are web-based applications. This approach allows blind students to access these educational tools universally using any web browser—from a computer, tablet, or smartphone—along with a screen reader and a Braille display.
Math Home Run Derby
This web-based game is a simple and fun way for blind students to practice basic math skills using a Braille display interactively.
Although the game works with different browsers, screen readers, and Braille displays, this version was used during the last school semester in a pilot project with blind students in Puerto Rico using the Monarch—a multiline Braille technology developed by the American Printing House (APH). The activity proved to be a highly enjoyable way to promote both math and Braille literacy. Students also used the Cranmer Abacus as a complementary tool to solve the math exercises while playing.
How to Play the Game
1. The blind student first selects a math operation by choosing one of the following buttons: Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, or Random.
2. The focus automatically moves to the game level selection area. The available buttons include: Units, Tens, Hundreds, and Combined. Based on the selected level, the math exercises are generated accordingly.
3. The focus then moves to the response mode section, where the student can choose between “Type Answer” or “Multiple Choice”.
4. Next, the focus automatically moves to the “Throw the Ball” button. When pressed, the focus shifts to the math exercise area, where the exercise is displayed using MathML so it can be reviewed with a screen reader and a Braille display.
5. After reviewing the exercise, the student scrolls down to the answer section. If “Type Answer” was selected, an edit box appears. The student must press Enter to focus on it and type their answer. Pressing Enter again submits the answer, and the focus moves to the game action area. The student can then read in Braille where the ball was hit. If the answer is correct, it’s a home run; if incorrect, it’s an out, and the correct answer is shown.
If “Multiple Choice” was selected, the student navigates through several answer buttons. After selecting an option and pressing Enter, the focus moves to the game action area. If the answer is correct, the student hits a home run; if not, it’s an out, and the correct answer is revealed. It’s important for blind students to gain experience with multiple-choice formats. Familiarity with this type of testing using assistive technology helps prepare them for future standardized exams.
The game then displays the total number of home runs and outs, along with a button to throw the ball again. The game continues in this manner.
At the bottom of the page, a summary of the student’s turns is shown, listing the math problem, the student’s answer, and the correct answer. A button is available to download this summary as a plain text file, allowing teachers to track student progress. A final button allows users to start a new game.
Play Ball!
Play Math Home Run Derby (English version)
Jugar Home Run Derby Matemático (Versión en español)
Coming soon, I will be publishing more accessible STEM web-based educational applications in both English and Spanish, designed for use with Braille displays.