Transforming digital images into 3D printed tactile images for Visual Impaired children

Person-centred Technology, ECI, Arts and Culture

National (Greece)

e-Nable Greece uses new technologies such as 3D printing and mechatronics to design, produce, and develop assistive devices or educational aids (accessories, assistive prostheses, educational kits). One of the organizations’s project/action was the development of a methodology/technique that transforms digital images into tactile 3D printed images. 
E-Nable designs and creates accessible open-source tactile images for people with a visual impairment, trains the teachers or families of people with visual impairments about this methodology. 
This tackles access to education, and social inclusion, and community engagement. Especially when there are no accessible forms of any educational/training/entertaining material, you can develop a customized tactile form. 

The project has significant impact in three Greek organizations that serve visual impaired people (Centre of Education and Rehabilitation for the Blinds in Athens and Thessaloniki and Amimoni). 
Apart from the visual impaired a success factor was the training of about 50 trainers in using this methodology and technology. 
A key lesson for the sustainability of the method is the follow up and constant support to the trainers of the service providers to keep up using the methodology/technique.

•    Children and people with visual impairment
•    Families of people with visual impairment
•    Trainers and service providers of visual impairment 

50 people trained. e-Nable Greece’s, online e-platform (https://elearn.stories4all.eu/) available to anyone in Europe who wishes to take online courses on how to use this practice. All models as open-source files that anyone with a 3D printer can download and print. With emerging technologies, the potential to develop further uses of technology for inclusive education is limitless. 
The technique has upgraded during 2021-2023 to a small-scale Erasmus+ partnership. E-Nable Greece also adjusts this technique to two different fields:
1.    Accessible tactile 3d printed art works during art exhibitions.
2.    Tactile-audio 3d printed orientation maps in public and private spaces. 

https://enabling.gr/en/