Tactile maps

by Regina Araujo
Sao Paulo, Brazil

Tactile maps use texture and relief to enable the teaching of geography to visually impaired people – for example embossed paper maps might have a raised area for landmass, different textures for water and Braille for place names. A side of map-making that most of us wouldn't ever know existed.

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Regina Araujo de Almeida graduated in History in 1976, Geography in 1982. She did her post-graduation in Physical Geography. She completed her master’s degree and PhD in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is currently a PhD professor at the Department of Geography at FFLCH - USP. She works as a teacher and researcher in the following areas: School Cartography, Tactile Cartography, teaching Geography, indigenous Geography and traning of Basic Education.