Tactile Literacy

The Tactile Literacy Program at Clovernook Center has a global reach and is impacting children with blindness or low vision in the United States and around the world. The program is focused on creating accessible books that can be read by sighted individuals and people with visual impairments at the same time. These dual readers include both print and braille pages. Embossed braille pages are inserted between illustrated and print pages to create a shared reading experience. Dual-reader books are paired with 3D models depicting illustrations within the book to create an engaging experience for visually impaired learners.

Since launching in 2020, Clovernook Center has partnered with more than a dozen schools in six countries to provide educational materials through the Tactile Literacy Initiative. In 2022, Clovernook Center expanded its reach and began distributing dual-readers and tactile graphics to schools and educational centers in East Africa where braille literacy rates are low. All tactile graphic models are developed on-site at one of two Clovernook Center 3D Makerspace printing locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, or Nairobi. Clovernook Center’s blind and visually impaired staff members ensure all tactile graphics are created to our high-quality standards.