Tactile Mnemonic Map for Special School No. 5 Named After Y. P. Batyuk
RCBU presented Special School No. 5 named after Y. P. Batyuk with a tactile landscape mnemonic map of the school grounds. The gift was created in collaboration with Univest Promo Park: the RCBU team was responsible for designing the mnemonic map, while Univest Promo Park handled the production of a 3-D architectural model of the school building.
Features of the Mnemonic Map
The mnemonic map provides a tactile representation of the school grounds: paths, buildings, and recreational areas. This is the first and, to date, the only mnemonic map the company has produced in which all labels are written exclusively in Braille, without any duplicate text in standard print.
The tactile map is made of a composite material that ensures the structure’s durability. The edges of the map are rounded for safe tactile use, and the color scheme features contrasting colors—this allows children with partial vision to navigate the map.
The school administration, specifically Kateryna Vasylivna Antoniuk and Oleksandr Omelyanovych Kramnystyi: participated in the development of the mnemonic diagram’s layout; she made revisions and identified the areas on the campus that needed to be marked first.
In addition to the mnemonic map, the school received a 3-D model of the building, produced by Univest Promo Park using a 3-D printer. Here is a quote from the Univest Promo Park team regarding the creation of the model:
Univest Promo Park has a separate division—3Dea—that specializes in 3D printing and the creation of engineering solutions, from modeling to the finished product. So when we were approached with the task of creating a tactile model of an institute building for children with visual impairments, we immediately knew: this was a job for 3Dea.
We started with the actual building: we took measurements, after which a structural engineer recreated it in 3D and scaled it down to 800 mm.
The design was optimized for tactile use: we rounded the corners to avoid sharp edges, chose PLA—a bioplastic made from plant-based raw materials, specifically cornstarch, which is lightweight and safe for tactile contact—and used an internal mesh reinforcement to ensure the model remained sturdy without being too heavy.
— the 3Dea × Univex Promo Park team
The Project’s Significance for the Orientation of Children with Visual Impairments
The project gives children a holistic understanding of the school grounds even before they actually navigate them: instead of piecemeal “point-to-point” experiences, a comprehensive spatial picture emerges—the location of the entrance, the playground, and other features, as well as the connections between them. This helps children develop the skills to navigate the school grounds independently, reduces their reliance on adult assistance, and fosters spatial thinking, which they can later apply beyond the school—when navigating other buildings and outdoors.
This project demonstrates that the accessibility of educational spaces for children with visual impairments is ensured not by individual elements, but by a comprehensive approach that combines tactile and architectural solutions. The RCBU continues to collaborate with educational and other institutions to implement similar initiatives.
This project demonstrates that the accessibility of educational spaces for children with visual impairments is ensured not by individual elements, but by a comprehensive approach that combines tactile and architectural solutions. The RCBU continues to collaborate with educational and other institutions to implement similar initiatives.
https://3dea.com.ua/ та https://upp.ua/
