Extending education and outreach in optics with the visually and hearing impaired

Abstract

We present the beginning of an ambitious project to extend initiatives of education and research in optics and photonics for population with disabilities. Specifically, we describe an activity organized by different student chapters in countries of Latin America geared towards the discussion and development of materials to teach optics and astronomy with and to the visually and hearing impaired. The particular event has been completed twice, once remote, in 2020, and another hybrid in 2022, with the in-person section hosted in Bogota, Colombia with remote participants from several countries. The event aims to develop educational materials, create a space for synergy interactions between different populations, and facilitate the expansion to different languages and regions in the Americas, particularly to reach under-served and remote communities. Different spaces are proposed and quantitative outcomes are provided.