This presentation explores the impact of making chemistry more accessible to blind and partially sighted students. High school students from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) participated in a Special Research Experience designed to make chemistry more accessible. Historically, blind and partially sighted students face explicit bias and systemic exclusion in chemistry. Excluding students from the "central" science—from its tools, data, and imagery— can inhibit learning in other STEM fields. It is important to allow students to choose for themselves if chemistry study is a path of interest. By developing and testing new methods, such as lithophanes, and making 2D/3D curricula more accessible, high school students from TSBVI had the opportunity to explore chemistry deeply. This presentation will share curricula and activities from this Special Research Experience, including electron microscopy, material science, and simple organic synthesis.

The impact of access: Making chemistry accessible to blind and partially sighted students

Where thousands of chemistry professionals meet to share ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. Spring 2023 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch at the end of March.

ACS Spring 2023

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.