Tactual Profile

Tactual Profile is an observation instrument for charting the tactual functioning of children with a severe visual impairment from birth to sixteen years old. The instrument concentrates on the tactual requirements that the everyday environment places on perception. Tactual perceiving and functioning are explicitly viewed in a broader sense than reading braille or understanding geographical maps or graphs. For example when a visually impaired child is playing with dolls, it has to know how to hold a spoon and be able to find the doll’s mouth in order to feed the doll.

The development of Tactual Profile was based on the practical experience of Visio staff, in close cooperation with other experts and relevant departments of the University of Nijmegen. The instrument has been tested in practice and against current literature and developments in the scientific field of touch. It is available to people who work with severely visually impaired and blind children.

Tactual Profile gives a good insight into a child’s tactual potential and limitations, but does not provide concrete suggestions for treatments. These are to be found in the sequel publication Feel Free, a book full of ideas to help lead the way from diagnosis to practice.