social good for society Archives

Published June 29, 2016

Follow Us to the NFB and ACB 2016 Conventions

The Bookshare team from Benetech is excited to attend two of our favorite conventions — the 76th Annual National Federation of the Blind (NFB) National Convention in Orlando, Florida, from June 30 to July 5, and the 55th Annual Conference and Convention of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from July 1 to July 9, 2016. Benetech salutes these important organizations and their efforts to ensure equal opportunity for blind and visually impaired people. In support, the Benetech / Bookshare team will attend both conventions and looks forward to meeting attendees, rekindling relationships with long-time members…

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Published April 15, 2016

Appreciation for Bookshare’s Blue Ribbon Volunteers

One of the things that makes Bookshare so special is the community of volunteers that we have the privilege of working with. In recognition of National Volunteer Week (April 10-16), we wanted to acknowledge their contributions and share just how much we appreciate each and every one of them! The Bookshare volunteers are an amazing group of 182 individuals. Over the past year they have scanned, submitted, and proofed over 2,000 books for Bookshare, the world’s largest online accessible library for people with print disabilities. Bookshare receives the majority of its titles in the form of digital files directly from the 850…

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Published February 14, 2016

Dear Bookshare…Love Letters to Celebrate the Joy of Reading!

February is the sweetest month of the year, but did you know that it is also Library Lovers Month? So today – Valentine’s Day – we are reminded of the people we love and of the things we love to do, like reading. Across our nation and the world, in tweets, letters and posts, Bookshare members tell us about their use of the online accessible library and their love of reading digital accessible books. Members say that 2016 will be a memorable year for reading, and we agree! Whether you want to improve your reading skills or help a student…

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Published February 2, 2016

High School Bookshare Member Prepares for Transition to College

“It is no longer difficult to find accessible books, and I will use Bookshare for a lifetime,” says Emeline Lakrout. “Just a few years ago, it was difficult to find accessible books,” says Emeline Lakrout, who has degenerative low vision. “I appreciate that my parents sought reading solutions for me starting at a young age. I have always been able to enjoy reading because of their efforts.” Now, at age seventeen, Emeline takes honors classes at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas. She is an avid reader and technology user. She is interested in all kinds of books…

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Published November 19, 2015

Making a Direct Impact on the Lives of People with Vision Loss

Disability advocates are often the first to say that people who are blind or visually impaired make excellent workers. Why? In addition to their unique strengths and talents, these workers are more likely to use assistive technology and have specific workforce training. They may have mentors, teachers, and close family members who support them. They may also take full advantage of knowledge resources, like Bookshare, to learn about their professional interests. When it comes to knowing about workers who are blind and about braille literacy and resources to train blind workers, Bookshare member Bill Powell, an Assistive Technology Director for…

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Published October 27, 2015

Living with Dyslexia – Changing the Future Together

This month, we are raising awareness about dyslexia and the myths surrounding people with this language-based learning disability that affects word recognition, spelling, and reading. Brain research says that with the right resources and accommodations, like accessible books and reading technologies, people with dyslexia can break through reading barriers, live incredible lives and reach immeasurable goals. So today, we want to shine a spotlight on some of our own Bookshare members and their reflections of living and learning with dyslexia. These members, and many like them, are strong advocates of people with dyslexia and learning disabilities. We hope their inspiring…

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Published October 15, 2015

Special Guest Post – VA Educator Shares Sensory Teaching Ideas for Students with Dyslexia

October is a time to rally with our partners and advocates to raise awareness of dyslexia and learning disabilities. That’s why we’re sharing a valuable post on blended learning written by Virginia Educator and dyslexia teacher, Jennifer Cassese Appleton. This post was originally featured on the AIM-VA blog. Kudos to Ms. Appleton and to our partner, AIM-VA, for shining the spotlight on learning disabilities like dyslexia and sharing important information and resources. Special thanks also to the AIM-VA staff and editor, June Behrman. The Art of Blended Learning in Reading Classes Jennifer Cassese Appleton is a master at the art of blending multi-sensory learning…

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Published October 2, 2015

Let’s Raise Awareness of Dyslexia and Learning Disabilities in October

Did you know that 2.9 million children in the U.S. have a specific learning disability and one in five students has a brain-based learning and attention issue related to reading, writing, math, or organizational skills? According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, 1 of out every 10 students in the U.S. is dyslexic, and 80 percent of children placed in special education with a learning disability are dyslexic. In October, Bookshare is supporting Dyslexia Awareness Month and Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. It’s the perfect time to put a spotlight on learning disabilities like dyslexia, as well as resources like Bookshare…

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Published April 30, 2015

Experience Our Impact: Join Us for an Open House on May 3

Please join us for a special Bookshare Open House at the headquarters of Benetech, our parent nonprofit. What will you get to experience? See and touch our latest work in 3D printing Try our reading tools, like Bookshare Web Reader Learn about our important work with mentor teachers and parents through partners like Understood.org, and more! Don’t miss the special event: When: Sunday, May 3, 2015 Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm Where: Benetech’s Office 480 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306 (Parking is available in Lot C-5 behind the building) RSVP: Via BookshareOpenHouse@benetech.org or Facebook We look forward to…

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Published April 28, 2015

Support Bookshare on May 5!

Bookshare is the thriving community it is today thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of all of you—members, parents, teachers, mentors, volunteers, partners, and friends! We’re so grateful for your continuous support and can’t wait to bring the gift of reading and educational opportunities to even more people. Please help us bring Bookshare to others who need our services by supporting our Silicon Valley Gives (SVGives) fundraiser on May 5, 2015. For those of you who may not have heard of it, SVGives is a community-wide day of giving hosted by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. On Tuesday, May 5,…

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Category: social good for society