Information and Advice for Educators
- Lighting is important. Color recognition can be affected by bright, low, inside or natural light. It is easier to identify colors in bright light as opposed to low light.
- Seat color blind students close to the board and at an angle where glare is not an issue.
- Designate a classmate to help the student with colored diagrams or pictures.
- Check worksheets and textbooks for color issues such as coloring the ball red or red writing on a pink background. Use labels to differentiate, rather than color.
- Photocopy worksheets or textbook pages that are printed in colored ink or on colored paper.
- Use black marker on white boards and white chalk on black boards. When writing on green chalkboards the student may require a written copy.
- Check school computer settings to ensure that the colors are set where the student is able to read all relevant material.
- Check to make sure that supplies such as markers, colored pencils, and crayons are labeled with color names that make sense to the student.
- Be conscious of teasing by other students for using incorrect colors. Deal with issues immediately so that the child's self esteem does not suffer.
- In gym class boundaries and red, orange, or green balls can be difficult to see against grass.
- Using a traffic light system for classroom management or timers are difficult for color blind students. Most cannot distinguish between red, green, and orange.
- Be mindful of classroom posters and other visuals as the colors may be hindering to color blind students.
- Teach students who are color blind the correct name for the color of common items. This can help them in their daily life and tasks. For example, if asked about the sky they will know to answer blue or color the grass on a worksheet using the green crayon.