Equipment for Disabled Players

[David G Congalton]

Braille Chess Clocks

There are modifications to chess equipment to allow visually impaired people to access a chess clock, which they are allowed to touch during tournament and league play.

In principal, a Braille Chess clock has the glass removed from the two clock faces, enabling the player to lightly touch the hands and feel additional markings, which have been placed on the clock face, so that he can determine the time. These clocks are analog and require winding up. Some more modern clocks have an additional last 5-minutes adjustment, which extends the hour-hand outside the rim of the clock face, to aid in the easier assessment of the time in the time scramble.

The BCA have just received a batch of new Braille clocks. These are factory-produced by Garde with a Braille clock face, with raised markings for the last 5 minutes before the hour.

The BCA are currently selling these at £30 each to members of our association.

We are always developing our styles and thoughts on chess clocks, so if you have any comments, or wish to know more about our Braille chess clocks, as well as about enquiring about buying one, please contact the technical team.