Innovative resource brings hands-on science to all learners for just $20.
Emporia State University associate professor Erika Martin, in collaboration with Whitney Davidson, has released “The Adapted Biology Lab Manual,” an innovative and affordable digital resource designed to make science accessible, and enjoyable, for high school students who are blind or have low vision.
Rooted in the belief that everyone should enjoy science, Martin developed the manual to ensure students of all visual abilities could participate fully and simultaneously in biology lab activities. The publication features 12 adaptable modules appropriate for blind, low-vision and sighted learners, along with a robust set of teacher resources, including links to low-cost equipment and budget-friendly methods for completing each lab.
The project began 10 years ago when Martin encountered three blind students in one of her first classes at ESU. Traditional accommodations relied on pairing blind students with sighted partners who conducted the lab work and reported results verbally, an approach that excluded blind students from hands-on scientific exploration. Determined to change that, Martin collaborated over several years with a student who openly disliked biology to redesign lab activities that were fully accessible, engaging and empowering.
“There is so much to understand and enjoy in the world,” Martin said. “And I can only hope that I have added something meaningful that will bring biology to everyone and spark joy and enthusiasm for learning.”
After successful nationwide field testing and the support of a forward-thinking publisher, “The Adapted Biology Lab Manual” is now available, believed to be the only biology lab manual of its kind.
The manual is offered through American Printing House for $20, providing an affordable, transformative tool for educators seeking inclusive science curriculum.