accessible books Archives - Page 3 of 26

Published October 8, 2015

Missouri Educator Underscores Value of Student Logins and Individual Memberships

Catherine Fortney, an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Facilitator at the Francis Howell School District in St. Charles, Missouri, says her Bookshare student members love Individual Memberships and Student Logins—a new feature that lets students log in on their own and read assigned books wherever they want. Students’ Reading Transformations Fortney also likes to share stories of transformation with colleagues, administrators, and parents. “Transformative stories fortify the value of Bookshare,” she says. “The online accessible library is a game changer in special education, especially for students with learning, vision, and physical disabilities, such as muscular dystrophy.” Gabby, a high school student…

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Published August 14, 2015

Meet the Fab Four: Benetech Summer Interns

Benetech’s Summer Internship Program has been going strong for three years. Each summer, several college students work on Bookshare-related projects and learn about Benetech’s programs in the areas of global literacy, human rights, and Benetech Labs. Read on to learn about our four fabulous interns — Alyssa Aliotti, Paige Brown, Michelle McLaren, and Mitchell Mankin — as they describe the valuable work they accomplished. My name is Alyssa Aliotti and I am entering my second year at UCLA. I plan on double majoring in Economics and International Development Studies. When I was looking for summer internships I was very excited about Benetech’s…

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Published August 7, 2015

It’s a Wrap! Thank You for Turning It Up & Telling the World

Summer is winding down and so is the Bookshare Summer Reading Challenge. For the past six weeks Bookshare members have found adventure in Travel & the Great Outdoors; tasted new cuisines in Food & Cooking; worked up a sweat in Sports & Fitness; played and tinkered in Games & Gizmos; saved the earth in Sustainability & the Environment; and explored their creative side in Crafts & the Arts. Many of you finally read that book you’ve been meaning to read for a long time. Thanks to all of the members who joined us on this journey and recommended their favorite…

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Published July 30, 2015

Check Out Our Latest Video Tutorials and Book-Finding Tips

Get the Edge: Monthly Training and Support Solutions Need help using Bookshare? Check out our latest Learn it Now tutorials and How-To Guides in the Bookshare Academy. Learn it Now tutorials are two-to-three-minute videos that will help members get the most out of Bookshare. We are pleased to present our newest titles: Help Students Read Independently with Bookshare Web Reader (YouTube) (TeacherTube) (Transcript) How to Use Bookshare’s Reading Lists (YouTube) (TeacherTube) (Transcript) How to Find and Request Books (YouTube) (TeacherTube) (Transcript) Another useful resource in the Bookshare Academy is our How-To Guides. These guides provide step-by-step instructions along with screenshots to help…

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Published July 14, 2015

“Go Set a Watchman” Makes Literary History

Literary history is being made today with the publication of Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. This much anticipated novel, written in 1957 before To Kill a Mockingbird, was believed to be lost for over 50 years. Lucky for Harper Lee fans all over the world, Go Set a Watchman is available in bookstores today. And even luckier for people who cannot read traditional books due to blindness, low vision, physical and learning disabilities, Go Set a Watchman is available on Bookshare, the world’s largest accessible online library, at the same time. With Bookshare, readers can listen to Go…

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Published July 10, 2015

Bookshare a Notable Advantage for People With Visual Impairments, says The New York Times

This post originally appeared in Benetech’s Blog on July 6, 2015 For people who cannot use standard print, the increasing availability of digital books and services such as Benetech’s Bookshare library are a boon that is unlocking the world of reading, says The New York Times. In a story titled “An App to Aid the Visually Impaired,” author Jonah Bromwich highlights Bookshare as a “notable advantage” of an app called Spotlight Text. This reading tool, explains Bromwich in App City, The New York Times’ biweekly column about influential mobile apps, is outfitted with adjustable scrolling text, adjustable font, sharp contrast,…

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Published July 7, 2015

Improve Your Reading Fitness with the Summer Reading Challenge

The Bookshare Summer Reading Challenge is sprinting into week 4! It’s never too late to jump right in and join the fun. Thanks to all of the members who have recommended their favorite books including these: From Thom in Albuquerque, NM: Garlic and Sapphires. This is a great book about the food critic for the New York Times (Ruth Reichl) that is hilarious and funny. It tells of her bad chairs and her disguises in New York. From @silly_singer in Pelham, NH: Been meaning 2 read Playing For Pizza by John Grisham 4 a while now. 2 read it now…

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Published June 26, 2015

Cooking Up Some Good Reads in the Summer Reading Challenge

The Bookshare Summer Reading Challenge is off and running! You are welcome to join the fun any time. Just find a book (or three), read, and share your favorites with the Bookshare community. Here is some of the buzz on Twitter using the challenge hashtag, #TurnUp4Books: From @MSPruske in Los Angeles: How to choose btwn 2 Jacks (Kerouac/London) for Wk 1 of @Bookshare Summer Reading Challenge (Travel & Outdoors)?? Pick both. #TurnUp4Books From @silly_singer in Pelham, NH: With a little motivation from @Bookshare I have finally gotten around to reading “My Path Leads to Tibet” From @NightingaleOG: Since returning home…

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Published June 20, 2015

Celebrating Fathers in Life and Literature

Did you know that Father’s Day started in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, but didn’t become an official holiday until 1972? Whatever the reason, let’s give Dad his due, whether we are talking about biological dads, stepdads, granddads, foster dads, honorary dads, or any special dad in your life. Fabulous fathers can be found throughout literature including Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird; Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter series; Hans Hubermann in The Book Thief; Jean Valjean in Les Miserables; Charles Ingalls in the Little House series; Otto Frank in Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl; and Bob…

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Published June 16, 2015

Bookshare Summer Reading Challenge Starts June 22 – Are You Ready?

Summer is knocking on the door, and excitement is building for the Bookshare Summer Reading Challenge starting next Monday, June 22. Are you ready to turn it up and tell the world? It’s fun and easy to participate – just search for books, read them, and share your favorites with the Bookshare community. You’ll help members like you discover new books and get lots of praise and kudos from other readers. If you don’t already have a list of books to brighten your summer, check out the staff picks. Each week of the challenge features a theme and suggested titles…

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Category: accessible books