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1. General provisions

1.1 The Unified Principles of Textbook Adaptation and Updated Braille Notation recommended by the Ministry of National Education apply to the creation and adaptation of maps for the blind.

The Minister of National Education recommends the Unified Principles of Adaptation and Notation for use in the preparation of Braille textbooks and other teaching materials, including sets of tasks and examination sheets for blind students and in enlarged print for students with low vision.

As a result of the work of the Team of Experts, which included representatives of circles involved in supporting the blind and partially sighted (directors of special educational centres for blind and/or partially sighted children), universities performing textbook adaptations commissioned by the Ministry of Education (the University of Warsaw and the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin) as well as the University of Łódź, the Polish Association of the Blind and the Centre for Education Development, unified principles of textbook adaptation and updated Braille notation were developed.

As a result of the work of the Team, the following documents were produced:

Instruction for the creation and adaptation of illustrations and braille materials for blind students, developed by a team of braille educators from Special School and Educational Centres in Poland. Bydgoszcz, Kraków, Laski, Owińska 2011;

Braille notation mathematical physical chemical, 2nd edition, Kraków, Laski, Łódź 2011;

Principles of creating and adapting graphics for blind pupils, developed by teachers of Special School and Educational Centres for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Poland. Bydgoszcz, Laski, Łódź 2011;

Zasady adaptacji materiałów dydaktycznych do wersji brajlowskiej edited by Paweł Wdówik, University of Warsaw, Office for Persons with Disabilities, Warsaw 2011;

Principles of adaptation of didactic materials to the needs of the visually impaired edited by Donata Kończyk, Office for Persons with Disabilities, University of Warsaw, Warsaw 2011.".

1.2 One should follow the guidelines of the publication summarising the hitherto achievements of Polish tyflokartography: Tyflokartografia, praca zbiorowa, redakakcja merytoryczna Józef Mendruń, redakcja techniczna Elżbieta Oleksiak, in: "Przegląd Tyflologiczny", No. 1-2 (40-41) 2010.

1.3 The following Specific Provisions should be used, based on the experience of authors and readers of the following maps and atlases published to date:

Map of Poland on a scale of 1:1,700,000 (the so-called "cerat map"), published in 1957 by the Cooperative of the Blind in Krakow. (Abbreviation: [MP])

In 1983, the Central Office of Geodesy and Cartography, in cooperation with the Polish Association of the Blind, appointed a commission to develop further colour relief maps from the intended collection of maps. The cartographer was MA Janusz Łopatto. The State (later Polish) Cartographic Publishing Company was commissioned to develop and produce the maps. Thermal vacuum technology was used. Forty-three maps were produced, but only 11 maps were printed in print runs. (Abbreviation: [ZMŁ])

Geographical Atlas of Poland, Warsaw 2004, Central Office of Geodesy and Cartography. Maps in A3 format printed on capsule (puffy) paper were combined into a volume. Tyflokartographic elaboration Magdalena Polak. (Abbreviation: [AGP])

Geographical Atlas of Europe, Warsaw 2006, Central Office of Geodesy and Cartography. A2 and A3 format maps printed on capsule (puffy) paper have been combined into 2 volumes. Tyflocartographic compilation - Mariusz Olczyk, Magdalena Polak. (Abbreviation: [AGE])

The European Union - Let's Get to Know Each Other, a colourful atlas for the blind and partially sighted, Warsaw 2009, Polish Blind and partially sighted "Trakt" Foundation, was co-financed by PFRON. 30 maps in A2 and A3 format were produced in transparent tactile print on colour sub-print. Tyflokartographical elaboration - Mariusz Olczyk and Magdalena Polak. (Abbreviation: [AUE])

Atlas for the Blind and Partially Sighted, published by the Society for the Care of the Blind, financed by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, 2010. 32 maps in A2 and A3 format contained in two volume folders have been produced in transparent tactile print on colour sublimation. Tyflokartographical elaboration - Mariusz Olczyk. (Abbreviation: [ADP])

With the exception of the first map, about the details of the creation of which we have no information, all the maps and atlases mentioned above were edited in close cooperation between the cartographer and a team consisting of teachers of the blind and blind and partially sighted people who systematically corrected all the elements of the maps with touch and poor eyesight during subsequent consultations.

Polish tyflocartographic traditions differ in some details from those of other countries. However, it is important for the Polish learner to follow our traditions when creating or adapting subsequent maps and atlases. The uniformity of tactile and colourful signs and Braille abbreviations of names will indeed make it easier for students to read new maps and to use maps and atlases efficiently.

Not every convex map can be considered a tactile map, as it may not be readable by touch.

The quality of tactile printing, i.e. tactile graphics and captions, as well as the quality of colour printing for the visually impaired should be taken into account when creating maps and atlases. Only high-quality printing together with proper use and storage of the map/atlas will enable long-term, correct and satisfying use of the teaching aids. Cartographic and lettering marks and textures must be easy to read by touch. They must not be unpleasant to the touch or cause damage to fingertips.

There is great value in combining colour print on the map adapted for visually impaired pupils with tactile print for blind pupils. The level of generalisation needed is similar, allowing the same content to be placed in the colour and tactile layers of the map. In the print layer for the visually impaired, commonly used signatures should in principle be used, but they should be adapted by simplifying and enlarging the sign drawing and line thickness. Both the intensity and contrast of the colours must be adapted for reading with poor eyesight.