Accessible Test

Labeling Book and Tool Kit

(Continued)
Purpose

To provide information to adults who have lost vision about how to identify objects and materials in their environment, particularly household items, and a tool kit to assist in labeling

Project Staff

Mary T. (Terrie) Terlau, Project Leader

Lisa-Anne Mowerson, Project Consultant/Author

Erica Rucker, Research/Project Assistant

Background

An Independent Living Specialist in Kentucky suggested that APH create a set of large print labels for canned foods and pantry items. Input from a focus group of rehabilitation teachers led to the expansion of this product to include a consumer-oriented book that provides guidance in organizational techniques as well as labeling. A Labeling Tool Kit is also being developed to accompany the book. These materials will help visually impaired adults who are unable to access rehabilitation teaching services to understand and apply organizational and labeling principles. Rehabilitation teachers can also use these materials with students whom they see infrequently.

During FY 2004, Lisa-Anne Mowerson produced materials based on her years of experience teaching these skills to individuals and groups of persons with visual impairments. Editing, restructuring, and reorganization of materials for the first third of the book were completed. During FY 2005, revision and editing of materials in the second third of the book was undertaken. During FY 2006, the project leader completed the editing/writing of the middle third of the book. The consultant and project leader redesigned the structure for the final third of the book. This portion of the book was originally based on structure and presentation style used in face-to-face teaching; consequently, the book’s material required major reorganization in order to support learning without the aid of a teacher and student group. During FY 2007, the consultant rewrote the final chapters of the book, and the project leader expanded and edited them.
Because project leaders’ time was required for other projects, essential work on the functional assessment prototype was postponed during FY 2008.
Work during FY 2009

The project leader rewrote sections of the book to reflect advances in auditory labeling systems and to include new MagneTacher labels available for sale from APH. Information about APH's MagneTacher labels can be found at http://www.aph.org/advisory/2008adv01.html#P3

Work planned for FY 2010

The project leader and consultant will complete the revisions of the final third of the book, and a draft will be prepared for field review. Field reviewers will be selected and the field review process will be undertaken. Materials will be edited based on field review results and final text will be made available for graphic design.

MagneTachers for Braille Labels

(Completed)

Purpose

To provide a durable magnetic material on which labels for cans and other metal surfaces can be brailed with a braillewriter or a slate and stylus and that can then be reused repeatedly on cans or other metal surfaces

Project Staff

Mary T. (Terrie) Terlau, Project Leader

David McGee, Manufacturing Specialist
Background

Braille labels that are placed on canned foods often are made from pressure-sensitive Dymo-Tape™ or another permanently affixed braille labeling material. Such labels are thrown away with the can and cannot be reused. Discarding labels that, if attached in another way, could be reused on other cans of the same type of food is costly in terms of labeling materials and time taken to re-braille the same labels. Magnetic Dymo-Tape™ offers one solution for reusable can labels. However, some persons find this material difficult to handle because it is fairly thin. A thicker magnetic label that could hold braille well would offer a more widely acceptable label for canned goods.

During FY 2006, the project leader and manufacturing specialist reviewed a variety of magnetic vinyl samples for thickness and ability to hold braille. A material and a packaging strategy were selected. During FY 2007, the manufacturing specialist located a manufacturer capable of providing rolls of magnetic vinyl in the size and quantity that were needed. Content for braille/print directions was finalized. In-house expert review was conducted and appropriate changes were made. Information for the writing of specifications was collected.
Internal expert review of materials and instructions was conducted and the product was made available for sale. However, the project leader noticed that braille labels on the finished product did not adhere well to the sides of metal cans. A search for vinyl incorporating a stronger magnetic material was undertaken.
Work during FY 2009

It was anticipated that an engineering change would be needed to acquire and use a stronger magnetic vinyl. However, additional in-house expert review of the final product showed that its vinyl held well to the sides of metal cans and that the problem had been restricted to pre-production samples. Therefore, the product was not changed.

Work planned for FY 2010

Because MagneTachers for Braille Labels required no changes and are available for sale, no additional development is anticipated in 2010. Information about MagneTachers for Braille Labels can be found at http://www.aph.org/advisory/2008adv01.html#P3

MagneTachers for Large Print Labels: Jumbo Size

(Completed)

Purpose

To provide a magnetic label for canned goods or other metal surfaces that will hold large print letters made with bold-line pens or markers up to an inch in height

Project Staff

Mary T. (Terrie) Terlau, Project Leader

David McGee, Manufacturing Specialist
Background

Persons who can no longer read labels on canned food products frequently make large print labels on file cards and attach these cards to cans with a rubber band. Large print label-making devices can also be used. However, each of these methods is problematic. Rubber bands can slip off of round cans and can also become entangled with cards on neighboring cans on the cupboard shelf. Label makers are expensive and may not make print large enough for some persons with low vision. A strip of magnetized vinyl with a paper surface would allow persons with low vision to write labels and reuse them on other cans of the same food.

During FY 2006, samples of magnetic vinyl were examined by the project leader and manufacturing specialist, and desirable features were determined. It was necessary to locate samples that were coated with a paper-like finish that would hold writing when done with bold-line pens or markers. Vendors who produced these materials were located.
During FY 2007, the manufacturing specialist searched diligently for a manufacturer capable of providing rolls of magnetic vinyl with the necessary coating in the size and quantity that were needed. A manufacturer was found late in FY 2007. Content for braille/print directions was finalized. In-house expert review was conducted and appropriate changes were made. Information for the writing of specifications was collected.
During FY 2008, a final internal expert review of materials and instructions was conducted and the product was made available for sale. However, the project leader noticed that braille labels on the finished product did not adhere well to the sides of metal cans. A search for vinyl incorporating a stronger magnetic material was undertaken.


Work during FY 2009

It was anticipated that an engineering change would be needed to acquire and use a stronger magnetic vinyl. However, additional in-house expert review of the final product showed that its vinyl held well to the sides of metal cans and that the problem had been restricted to pre-production samples. Therefore, the product was itself not changed. The name of the product was altered from MagneTachers for Large Print Labels, Jumbo Size to MagneTachers for Larger Print Labels.

Work planned for FY 2010

Because MagneTachers for Larger Print Labels required no changes and are available for sale, no additional development is anticipated in 2010. Information about MagneTachers for Larger Print Labels can be found at http://www.aph.org/advisory/2008adv01.html#P3