Facilitator
Ashley Neybert, Independence Science.
Workshop Overview
Learn innovative ways to engage blind students in hands-on, inquiry-based STEM learning, through this interactive workshop on polymer chemistry led by one of Independence Science’s low-vision experts, Ashley Neybert. We will use accessible materials to create inclusive, hands-on experiences to bring science to life for blind and low vision (BLV) learners.
This workshop provides practical strategies, ready-to-use materials, and a vocabulary guide to create an inclusive STEM classroom. First, we will explore the structure of plastics through a tactile activity using everyday materials, and learn techniques to guide blind students in understanding abstract concepts like polymers and their properties. Next, we will dive into a safe and non-toxic chemistry experiment where we make hydrogel “worms”, to introduce concepts like polymer network formation and chemical recycling.
Leave inspired with techniques to empower blind students to fully participate in scientific discovery, so that we make science accessible and engaging for all learners!