about
See3D, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that leads a collaborative, volunteer, community initiative to design, print and distribute 3D printed models for blind people globally.
The Problem
Blind people need tactile access to visual concepts. Some things are too large, small, dangerous, delicate, or far away to touch.
Our Solution
We use 3D printing to make custom models for blind people to touch, and keep forever.
The See3D Difference
We are changing the landscape of tactile model creation by bringing a global network of model creators together with model recipeints to create individualized models.
See3D sends models all around the world!
Learning Braille → Vision to Connect
Our founder wanted to be able to read books in the car without getting carsick, so she started teaching herself braille when she was 12. Looking for more applications to use her braille skills as a sighted person, she saw an opportunity in the blindness community to connect blind and sighted people with 3D printing.
200+
Volunteers and counting
Growing With Feedback from Model Recipients
Our first model recipients helped shape See3D’s mission from day one, sharing what worked, what didn’t, and what would make models truly useful. Their feedback guided our designs, standards, and the way we match requests with volunteers so every print is practical, accurate, and meaningful.
6,500+
models sent to people
Supporting Orgs to Make Local Impact
From 2019-2024 we co-led the 3D Model Club at the Ohio State School for the Blind. Now we help even more schools and organizations create their own accessible 3D printing programs.
8
Blindness organizations have 3D printing programs suppoted by See3D
Live Dashboard of Global Impact
See3D supports global outreach to provide 3D printed resources.
35
Countries and territories have See3D models
Hear from the See3D community
Our community of model recipients, volunteers, mentors, team leaders, community organizations, and supporters globally all collaborate to enable accessibility through 3D printing technology.
We love having access to a mentor in the field who can provide insights and guidance on ways to maximize accessibility for our 3D printer process. Having this wealth of knowledge has been an invaluable asset and great for brainstorming, troubleshooting, and tech questions.
– 3D Printing Mentee at a School for the Blind
See3D is a place where you can go in and do as much as you want. The more proactive you are, the more you’ll learn — and the more you’ll give back.
– Daniel Serpaperez, Data Analytics and Finance Intern
Before I touched the model, castle was just a word.
– Cassandra Jones, first See3D model recipient
Many of us as blind people have had to reluctantly accept not being able to access tactile information unless we are fortunate to have access to the necessary design and production supports. And even when we do have access to these resources, we often only receive tactile materials for school or work. However, See3D’s model request program avoids perpetuating this form of tactile gatekeeping, instead sending the message that any blind person has the right to access the tactile information that we desire, whether for practical reasons or simply for the sake of curiosity.
– Lindsay Yazzolino, Board Member, Model Recipient
I feel lucky to have found a community who share their professions, passions and personal 3D printed resources to make 3D models for those who truly benefit from 3D printing innovation. I’ve had the chance to print butterflies with my FDM machine, and a large batch of D&D dice on my SLA printer! Both of these prints actually brought in fun new workflow learnings – support structure learnings for the butterflies and batch production learnings for the D&D dice.
– Volunteer, 3D Printing Professional
I brought my 3D brain when I went to get an MRI, so when they were telling me the information they were getting, I could use my tactile 3D brain as a reference. I could understand what they were talking about and put it into my 3D idea of what a brain is. I also like that you could pull it apart and think about it in a cut in half view. Sighted people often have a cut in half view when they are looking at printed references
– Mae, age 14, has CVI, Model Recipient