print disabilities Archives - Page 8 of 12

Published April 8, 2014

School-to-Home Access for Print-Disabled Students Includes Digital Books, iPads and Apps

We want to thank Jessica Chandler, an Ohio Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for sharing this article. It’s about the spirit of teamwork in her district and working together to extend reading opportunities for students with print disabilities from school to home. Ms. Chandler is a Bookshare Mentor Teacher. Kudos to District’s Special Education Administrator! Jessica credits her district’s Special Education Administrator, Dr. Deborah Turner, for her forward-thinking approach. “I applaud Dr. Turner’s vision to use digital accessible books and reading technologies to help students prepare early for reading assignments and to train all…

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Published April 1, 2014

Discover and Rejoice in Great American Poets!

April is National Poetry Month and the perfect time to enjoy great poetic works! That’s why we’re sharing some wonderful poetry titles with Bookshare members today to discover and rejoice in the art of poetry. Inaugurated in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, this celebration of words and verse encourages educators, publishers, librarians, and people of all walks of life to share the love of poetry. In this blog, you’ll read about bestselling modern-day poems. You can peruse all-time favorite collections by great American masters. You’ll find a fun poem and a Pulitzer Prize-winner. You may even decide to…

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Published March 31, 2014

TCEA 2014 Conference Roundup. We Got Inspired!

Bookshare staffers and the Accessible Books for Texas team recently attended TCEA, a leading education conference in the beautiful and musical city of Austin, Texas. This year’s theme was “Get Inspired!” and you could tell from the energy in the hallways that educators were primed to do so! In this blog, we’re sharing our favorite learning experiences and photos with you. About TCEA The Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) is a member-based organization devoted to the use and support of instructional technology in PreK-12. It was founded in 1980 and is affiliated with the International Society for Technology in Education…

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Published March 26, 2014

It’s Only About Copyright!

Post written by Jim Fruchterman, Benetech/Bookshare Founder and CEO. Which students qualify for Bookshare in the United States? This is an important question for American students with disabilities, since Bookshare is the largest online library designed to provide accessible eBooks to people who cannot read standard print. The answer: it’s only about copyright. It’s not about special education, and not about special education disability categories. It’s not about 504 plans or Individualized Education Programs. It’s not about state policy, or local policy. It’s not about private schools or home schools. It’s not about medical doctors. It’s not about whether your…

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Published March 19, 2014

Stay Connected to Get More Out of Bookshare!

In this blog, you’ll get the scoop on all your favorite online hotspots like the Bookshare blog, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest so that you can quickly reach our staff, get timely answers to your questions, learn about Bookshare products, trainings and events and connect with the broader community that supports people with print disabilities. Are you fully connected? If not, join us now! The Bookshare Blog If you like reading stories, the Bookshare blog is your best bet! It’s a great place to keep up with real-time news and events, learn best practices, and enjoy testimonials from members who use…

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Published March 9, 2014

ATIA 2014 Conference & Bookshare Roundup!

This year’s conference was a resounding success, and we thank the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) for the great work they do to organize the conference and other events throughout the year. Conferences, like ATIA, are very important for learning new knowledge and for special opportunities to meet with new and long-standing Bookshare members in person. Bringing together such a diverse community of educators, parents, researchers, and developers helps us all to grow and share new and better ways to support children and adults with disabilities. To that end, here’s a quick roundup of our presentations, trainings and lively…

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Published February 24, 2014

Honoring Women in History—March

March is Women’s History Month. Do you know the name of a woman astronomer who discovered a comet in 1847? Who was the first woman Indian Chief to lead the Cherokee Nation? Who fought for a woman’s right to vote? We’ve pulled together some interesting titles about women activists, leaders, poets, and individuals who conquered remarkable odds to improve society. First, to answer our question about a woman astronomer. Maria Mitchell (1818–1889) was an astronomer who discovered a comet, which was named after her, on October 1, 1847. She was the first woman elected to the American Association for the…

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Published February 19, 2014

2014 Schneider Family Book Awards

The American Library Association (ALA) just announced the winners of the 2014 Schneider Family Book Awards. The ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world, and the Schneider Family Book Awards honor the artistic achievements of authors or illustrators who portray the disability experience. Awards are in three categories: 1) for child and adolescent audiences: birth through grade school (ages 0–8) 2) middle school (ages 9–13), and 3) teens (ages 14–18). Learn about this year’s winners and download their books from the Bookshare library! Award for Young Children A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of…

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Published February 14, 2014

Ode to February…The Month of Hearts and Romance Novels!

February is a grand time to bundle up with a good romance novel. According to the Romance Writers of America, two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying ending. What better way to celebrate the month of love than to browse Bookshare’s collection of romance titles, or review this reference book of the 100 best selling romance novels! Who are some of your favorite romance authors? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter * * * Nora Roberts was born into a family of readers and had never known a time that she wasn’t…

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Published February 10, 2014

Parent Advocates for Learning Portability for Children with Chronic Illness

Each year, thousands of students miss school due to a chronic illness and fall behind on their homework. This is the case for Hailey Bopp, a Texas youngster who is blind and has cognitive delays. “When Hailey misses school, she gets sad and depressed,” says Ann Bopp, her mom, “because she doesn’t get to read the books her teacher and classmates are reading.” To mitigate her daughter’s frustration, Ann signed Hailey up for a Bookshare individual membership and advocates for the online library to other families in similar situations. “Using Bookshare and an iPad, Hailey keeps up with reading assignments…

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Category: print disabilities