Skip to main content
COMMUNITY:
Educational Standard

National Federation of the Blind Engineering Quotient for Teachers: A Nonvisual & Accessible Engineering Curriculum

June 5, 2023 | Public Programs

National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Engineering Quotient (EQ) for Teachers is a free, online curriculum and collection of resources for educators who want to teach NFB EQ, the National Federation of the Blind’s week-long engineering program designed for blind and low-vision youth. The curriculum consists of full lesson plans, files for the production of tactile graphics, Braille-ready files, and other resources that facilitate accessible engineering instruction for blind and low-vision youth. While created for blind learners, the lessons can also be facilitated with sighted learners.

Originally held in 2018 with thirty blind youth ages 14-22, NFB EQ was the programmatic component of the NFB Spatial Ability and Blind Engineering Research grant from the National Science Foundation (#1712887). Central to all programs of the NFB was the positive, affirming environment in which blind youth felt safe and free to learn nonvisually. It is critical for blind youth to experience spaces that normalize blind ways of knowing and doing, as opposed to spaces that either prioritize sighted techniques or sideline blind youth entirely. As with all scientists and engineers, blind participants in the NFB EQ program were expected to be active learners; they planned, designed, built, and tested through a hands-on, iterative process. The importance of this empowering environment is reinforced by the introductory section to the curriculum, “Understanding Our Approach to STEM Teaching & Learning,” which should be read prior to facilitating instruction.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • 2013 10 25 130226AJ5D1058 2
    Author
    National Federation of the Blind
  • Wade Goodridge
    Author
    Utah State University
  • Sarah Lopez
    Author
  • Peter Anderson
    Author
    National Federation of the Blind
  • Ann Cunningham
    Author
    National Federation of the Blind
  • David Nietfeld
    Author
    Colorado Center for the Blind
  • Citation

    Funders

    NSF
    Award Number: 1712887
    Funding Amount: $2,101,009.00
    Resource Type: Research | Reference Materials | Educational Standard
    Discipline: Engineering
    Audience: Adults | Educators/Teachers | Families | General Public | Learning Researchers | Museum/ISE Professionals | Parents/Caregivers | Youth/Teen (up to 17)
    Environment Type: Summer and Extended Camps
    Access and Inclusion: People with Disabilities

    If you would like to edit a resource, please email us to submit your request.