Reimagining the Periodic Table

The Periodic Table is a staple of science education, but for students who are blind or low vision, it’s often one of the most difficult resources to access. Traditional tactile versions are bulky, hard to navigate, and limited in the amount of information they can convey. That’s why APH is excited to introduce a new Periodic Table app designed specifically for Monarch. 

With Monarch, students can explore the entire table dynamically. Instead of trying to interpret a full-page embossed diagram, users can pan through the table with their fingers, receiving tactile and braille feedback in real time. Each element becomes interactive: students can search by name, symbol, or atomic number, then select an element to access detailed facts like atomic weight, group, and physical state. It’s the same content taught in sighted classrooms, now accessible and intuitive for tactile learners. 

This app represents a breakthrough, not just in accessibility, but in equity. For the first time, students who use braille can interact with the full structure of the Periodic Table in a meaningful and independent way. They can feel patterns, relationships, and groupings- all the features that make the Periodic Table such a powerful tool for learning. 

Now, we need your help. APH is looking for Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI’s) to help test this app in early September. As a TVI, your experience in the classroom and understanding of your students’ needs are critical. We want to know how students respond to the layout, how easy it is to navigate, and what features could make it even more effective for teaching. 

If you or your students have access to a Monarch and would like to be a part of this important testing phase, we’d love for you to join us. Your feedback will directly influence the final design and help us ensure that this app truly supports students’ learning. 

To sign up or learn more, fill out this brief survey. Selected participants will be contacted by Willow Free. 

Accessible science should be engaging, empowering, and on par with what every student receives. With Monarch and this new Periodic Table app, we’re taking a big step in that direction. Help us get it right.