Building Your Multiple Disabilities Toolkit

At APH, we specialize in providing accessible products and services for the blind and low vision community. However, we also offer a significant number of products and resources that support those who live with multiple disabilities. We’ve compiled a list of products that can be useful to people who are blind and have at least one additional disability.

• Sensing and Learning: this modernization of the Sensory Learning Kit (SLK) is designed to help develop the curiosity of learners with disabilities. Sensing and Learning includes new research since the introduction of the SLK in 2005 and its predecessor the Sensory Stimulation Kit (SSK).
• APH’s Online Library of Sensory Learning Videos: A collection of videos that function alongside Sensing and Learning.
• SAM: Symbols and Meaning Kit: Learn about people, objects, actions, and places to understand the symbols related to these concepts.

• Tactile Connections Kit: An augmentative communication system for learners who are nonverbal and who have multiple disabilities.
• STACS: The Standardized Tactile Augmentative Communication Symbols Kit helps learning partners (teachers, parents, peers, etc.) teach a beginning standardized vocabulary to learners who have no means of formal communication.
• LED Mini-Lite Box: An all-inclusive person-centered learning tool for students who have low vision. Students with CVI and other disabilities can benefit from the Light Box Materials kits and commercially available mounts that can be attached. Now featuring an energy-efficient LED light panel and a rechargeable lithium battery pack!
• Mini-Lite Box Ledge Set: Slides into place and helps support bulkier light box materials, like Swirly Mats or Bright Shapes Knob Puzzles, when a learner uses/views the Mini-Lite Box at an angle.
• Expandable Calendar Boxes: These boxes help nonverbal students with multiple disabilities learn what is going to happen next in their day.
• Joy Player: Allows individuals who are developing fine motor skills, have limited mobility, or a cognitive disability in addition to a visual impairment to access music and audio books.

• Joy Player Cartridge Holder: Free on the APH Tactile Graphics Image Library (TGIL) and available in two versions: one that slides in and one that screws in.
• Spangle Tangle: Play and Explore Kit: Improve visual and tactile attention, communication, and creativity! Through specially designed activities, learners develop motor, problem-solving, cognitive, self-care, social, and pre-braille skills.
• Select Switch: A battery-powered switch with function control features that enable disabled individuals to communicate and control battery-operated appliances, toys, and devices.
• Swirly Mats: CVI and FVA: Durable, non-toxic Swirly Mats can be used alone or with APH’s Light Box. All mats can be used for locating, tracking, color discrimination, and more!
• InvisiBoard: Make visual clutter disappear for students with CVI by using the white or black side of the InvisiBoard.
• Rib-It-Ball: Rib-it-Balls are easy to grab and have high contrast ribbing. Crinkly fabric in the ribs adds an auditory component.
• Light Box Materials Level I: This set of materials for use with APH’s Light Box or Mini-Lite Box helps teach basic visual skills, eye-hand coordination, and simple matching skills.
• Light Box Materials Level II: This extensive set of materials for use with APH’s Light Box or Mini-Lite Box helps teach visual skills such as matching and identification, sequencing, and visual memory.
• Bright Shapes Knob Puzzles: Learn about colors and shapes with this interactive puzzle set.

• Jumbo Work-Play Tray: This large-size tray goes on the floor and provides learners who have low vision and significant challenges with a space and an area in which they can play, explore, and learn independently.
• Reach and Match Learning Kit: This product helps students with sensory impairment and other exceptionalities learn and engage with their peers, providing toddler training for manual dexterity and identifying tactile patterns and providing pre-schoolers with braille and print learning, motor development, direction, and spacial awareness training.

For more information or to find related products, visit aph.org/shop.