By Ed Summers on October 16, 2019
Are you interested in learning about accessible digital charts and graphs? SAS Graphics Accelerator is a free Chrome extension that enables users to access digital charts and graphs. Students can access a teacher-created graphic, upload a graphic from the Internet or create their own. Navigate through these digital graphics and anlyze the data contained in the graphic - with or without a screen reader.
There are numerous posts on Paths to Technology about SAS Graphics Accelerator; this summary post has been created to help educators and students to know what is available on this topic and to be able to quickly find these posts.
Note: Paths to Technology has a Map Library with crowd-sourced non-visual digital maps which are available for everyone to use. If you create a map, please consider sharing it!
SAS Graphics Accelerator Maps
(Maps released spring 2020)
Note: These posts are listed by date that they were published, starting with how to use the software and how to create customized maps and ending with classroom and O&M lessons that use non-visual digital maps.
- Activities that Build Digital Map Skills
- Getting Started with Non-Visual Digital Maps
- How to Create Accessible Digital Maps Using SAS Graphics Accelerator and Google Maps
- Creating a Non-Visual Digital Map: Video Tutorial
- Best Practices for Creating Non-Visual College Campus Maps
- Creating Non-Visual Digital Maps of Metropolitan Areas
- Editing a Non-Visual Digital Map from the Map Library
- SAS Graphics Accelerator Maps: Student Uploading and Accessing Maps
- Non-Visual Digital Maps: Self-Voicing Feature
- Remote O&M Instruction for Students Transitioning to College: Getting Started
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Remote O&M Instruction for Students Transitioning to College: Building a Mental Map (Victor's remote O&M Zoom lesson on using a non-visual campus map)
- Concept Development: Drawing (Building mental map concepts series associated with Victor's college O&M lessons)
- AFTER Remote Instruction for Students Transitioning to College: On Campus (Impact of map on Victor's on campus O&M lesson)
- Creating Customized Non-Visual Digital College Campus Maps
- Why Non-Visual Digital Maps for Young Students? (pre-cursor for John's O&M lessons series)
- Pittsboro Map Lesson: Getting Started
- John's O&M Lesson 1: Non-Visual Digital Maps for Elementary Student
- John's O&M Lesson 2: Learn about Streets
- John's O&M Lesson 3: Whole-to-Part Mental Map post
- John's O&M Lesson 4: Analyzing Map Data post
- John's O&M Lesson 5: Types of Communities
- John's O&M Lesson 6: Road Numbering Systems
- State Capitals Lesson: Non-Visual Digital Maps
- Trail of Tears Lesson
- Using a Digital Map for Work Travel
- Vermont Farm Lesson: Elementary Student post
- Vermont Farm: Drawing Conclusions from an O&M Post (middle/high school)
- 13 Colonies Lesson
- North Carolina Lighthouse Lesson: Elementary School post
- Missing Accelerator Button: Non-Visual Digital Maps (Workaround for a software bug that some users are experiencing)
- Santa's Sleigh Ride: Geography and Map Activities
- NY Maps: Union Square and Washington Square Park (includes history lesson)
- Build a Mental Map of Campus (YOUR school for the Blind)
Recorded Maps Webinar
- Webinar: Creating Accessible Maps Using SAS Graphics Accelerator and Google Maps
- Webinar: Exploring Accessible Campus Maps
- Map Library Webinar
SAS Graphics Accelerator Activities (Lessons)
- Sonification: Sounds with Meaning Activity (July 2019)
- Charts and Graphs Skills Review (July 2019)
- Choosing a Habitable Planet: Data Analysis Activity (July 2019)
- Activity: Create and Share a Simple Bar Chart (Nov. 2018)
- Activity: Reading Bar Charts Using Fun Facts About Planets (Nov. 2018)
- Activity: Reading Line Charts that Show Stock Market Data (Nov. 2018)
- Activity: Creating Line Charts from Yahoo Finance Stock Market Data (Nov. 2018)
General Information and Tutorials
- SAS Graphics Accelerator Tutorial #1: How to (Sept. 2018; video and post created by a high school student who is visually impaired)
- SAS Graphics Accelerator Video Tutorial #2: Options (Sept. 2018; video and post created by a high school student who is visually impaired)
- Getting Started with SAS and SAS Graphing Accelerator (Feb. 2017)
- Webinar: Learn How to Create Accessible Charts, Graphs and Maps (Webinar April 26, 2019; recording and resources available)
- Webinar: Creating Accessible Maps Using SAS Graphics Accelerator and Google Maps (Upcoming Webinar May 20, 2020 recording and resources posted afterwards)
SAS Graphing Accelerator in the News
- Reviewing Charts and Graphs: SAS Graphics Accelerator (July 2018)
- Making Graphics Accessible to Visually Impaired (April 2017)
- New SAS Software Helps Blind Users See Data in Unique Way (March 2017)
- SAS Enables visually impaired to 'visualize' data (Feb. 2017)
