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Activity and strategy

Writing Garden Labels

Include braille in your summer by inviting your child or student to write garden labels!

I am the mother of Liam, an 8-year-old boy who happens to be deafblind. He loves anything and everything to do with reading and writing braille!  Every summer we try to have some type of small garden.  Read about the accessible garden we created last year.

garden in a raised wooden box
Plants in a raised wooden box

We have a raised garden bed and also a smaller fenced off garden on the ground near the boys’ playground. Last year I labeled all the plants in braille. This year I wanted Liam to add the braille to the labels himself-what a great way to continue putting those braille writing skills to practice in the summer time!  

A brailler with plastic sticks to label plants
A brailler with plastic sticks to label plants
Liam uses a braillewriter to write the labels.
Liam uses a braillewriter to write the labels.

Liam wrote the labels independently onto stick-backed braille label paper. (I helped with spelling of the new words.)

Liam making labels for the plants
Liam making labels for the plants
pumpkin label
Pumpkin label in print and braille

He insisted on applying the labels to the “sticks” himself! I was able to find plastic garden labels at the local greenhouse this year that will weather better than the wooden pieces I made last year!

Liam labeling plants in the garden
Liam labeling plants in the garden
pumpkin label next to the plant
Pumpkin label next to the plant

Liam also helped me stick the labels into the soil near the correct plants.

Benefits of a garden for a child with vision impairments:

  • Hands on learning!
  • Exposure to new hobbies
  • Use of braille in a meaningful way and real life situation  
  • Motivating way to encourage writing and reading of braille 
  • Encourages independence:  labeling the garden, caring for the garden, harvesting the garden, etc.
  • Gardens can be made accessible for all children (ex: adding braille, varying the heights of the garden, including plants that have unique textures, tastes and smells, etc.)
Liam touching the plants
Liam touching the plants
Collage of including braille in your summer: writing garden labels
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