Free reading resource for parents of special needs children Archives - Page 2 of 9

Published November 5, 2014

Understood.Org – A Resource Network In Support of Parents of Children with Learning and Attention Issues

The Internet can be an amazing resource for finding out about everything from ancestry to zoology. As a parent of three children, I spent countless hours each month reading sites like “What to Expect When You Are Expecting,” and then checking their developmental growth on “Baby Center” only to be completely panic stricken when one of them did not reach their milestones when they were supposed to. Likewise, for parents who are trying to get answers to help their child succeed in school and at home, the Internet can be an overwhelming and scary place. Even the savviest of parents…

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Published October 9, 2014

Sharing Timely Resources and Student Successes for National Dyslexia Awareness Month

Bookshare serves many members who have a severe reading disability, like dyslexia, that makes it difficult to comprehend what they read in standard print. Persons with dyslexia cannot easily recognize words and letter sounds. They may be slow readers and poor spellers because signals to their brain mix up the ability to accurately decode print. The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) reports that 1 in 10 people have symptoms of dyslexia, and half of all students who qualify for special education in U.S. schools are classified with a learning disability. Thankfully, there are many people who have benefited from digital accessible…

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Published September 25, 2014

Accessible Books for Texas Program Funded for Fifth Year and Offers Enhanced Spanish Language Support

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has just approved funding for Benetech’s Accessible Books for Texas (ABT) program for a fifth year, from September 2014 through August 2015. Benetech is the parent nonprofit of Bookshare. This funding supplements an existing award from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education, and allows Benetech to do even more via a state-level partnership with Texas. Through ABT, local outreach coordinators deliver customized, face-to-face AEM (accessible educational materials) and Bookshare training to Texas educators, parents, and students. Additionally, Bookshare applies dedicated resources to Texas membership and support questions and book requests.…

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Published September 8, 2014

Get Inspired with an Individual Membership

Are you or your child or student ready to access Bookshare independently this new school year? Students with qualifying print disabilities can boost their academic independence by doing the following: Finding their own books Accessing teacher reading lists for school assignments Reading with the easy-to-use Bookshare Web Reader Make sure you or your child or student is ready with an Individual Membership! Teachers: Log into your Bookshare account and send pre-filled Individual Membership forms to your student’s parents (under 18 years) or to the students (18 years and above) so they can sign and send back to Bookshare. View detailed…

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Published August 19, 2014

Get Inspired for Back-to-School!

Reading is the key to inspiration, and you can start the new school year off on the right foot by making sure you have the books you need for class. Whether you are new to Bookshare or have been using it for years, follow these easy steps to get ready for Back-to-School! Update your account: Log in to Bookshare or sign up online! (Trouble logging in? Reset your password.) Individuals Check your membership status and provide any missing information. Schools and Groups Go to “My Organization” in the Task Bar. Go to “Members” and add new qualified students. For existing members, update their…

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Published July 28, 2014

Hot Off the Press! Bookshare’s Summer 2014 Bulletin

Bookshare members and supporters, the Summer 2014 Bulletin is out, and you can catch up on the latest happenings at Bookshare and Benetech, our parent nonprofit. What’s in the news? Bookshare is celebrating two major milestones—serving more than 310,000 people with print disabilities and providing access to over 250,000 titles. Wow! There’s still time to enter the Summer of Sleuths reading contest. Enter before 5 PM on August 1 for a chance to win awesome prizes! Get great tips on using Bookshare from our Support Team. Learn about our Parent Ambassador Program and great professional development opportunities for educators. Learn…

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Published July 25, 2014

NEW! Bookshare Parent Ambassador Program

A post by Lisa Wadors Verne, PhD, Manager of Bookshare’s Parent Outreach Program. Over the years, we’ve met many amazing parents who advocate on behalf of their children for accessible books, reading technologies, and educational resources like Bookshare. As a result, we’ve published some great stories about dedicated moms and super dads who have performed heroic acts to ensure their children get equal access to learning. We know that there are many more parents doing similarly amazing things for children with print disabilities every day. They may tell other parents about how their child uses Bookshare at home, advocate at…

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Published July 3, 2014

Third Grader Reads Fast with His Fingers and Inspires Teaching Assistant to Learn Braille

Brennan Draves, a third grader at Mackensen Elementary School, who also receives educational services at Bay-Arenac ISD in Michigan, reads his assignments fast with his fingers. He uses a BrailleNote device and books from Bookshare. Carissa Reed, his teaching assistant, says, “Brennan is a whiz when it comes to learning! He’s just an awesome and intelligent little guy and a sponge for information. He inspires me and everyone he meets!” Brennan has Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease that causes severe vision impairment and blindness. Brennan says, “Bookshare has made my homework easier. With my BrailleNote, I skip the notes…

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Published June 16, 2014

The Summer of Sleuths Contest Is Live. Enter Today!

It’s time to solve some clues! The Summer of Sleuths reading contest for U.S. Individual Members has officially launched! Put on your favorite detective cap, pull out your magnifying glass, and get ready to inspect some great detective books in Bookshare. Through Friday, August 1st, contestants will download, read, and solve clues within great detective books from Bookshare. For every clue you answer correctly, you will be entered into a drawing for awesome prizes like detective gadgets, gift cards and free year-long Bookshare memberships! (Read our initial contest announcement to learn more about the contest). Important Tips for Summer Sleuths…

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Published June 13, 2014

From the Eyes of Fathers…Honoring Dedicated Dads!

We’re honored to feature two proud dads of Bookshare students. Mr. Drake Leong from Palo Alto, California, is the father of Kevin Leong, and Mr. Andrew Cooper from Austin, Texas, is the father of Ben Cooper. Both dads care deeply about their sons and are intimately involved in their education and use of Bookshare. These fathers represent the best in parental dedication to students with print disabilities. Today, we’re sharing their thoughts about their sons. Drake Leong “Life before Bookshare was very difficult for my son,” says Drake. Kevin suffered an unexpected brain injury when he was little and had…

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Category: Free reading resource for parents of special needs children