Special Education Accommodations Archives - Page 5 of 12

Published November 17, 2014

Updated Bookshare Web Reader Now Lets You Read on Safari!

Bookshare Web Reader, the popular and free reading tool, can now be used on current versions of the Safari browser for Mac! With this newest update to Bookshare Web Reader, Mac users can use Safari to find, open, and read Bookshare books directly within the browser. In addition, they can also listen to words read aloud and follow along with synchronized word highlighting. This full set of reading features was previously only available only on Google Chrome. This is a particularly great update because in addition to using the Safari browser, Mac users can take advantage of high-quality voices available…

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Published October 28, 2014

Bookshare’s Updated Website Is Live and Helps You Do More!

Bookshare’s updated website is live, so please tell everyone you know who uses the library! This year, our team has been working extra hard to make some great new improvements to our website while keeping many core features you know and love. What’s extra cool is that the updated website is now mobile-friendly, so members can enjoy an improved on-the-go reading experience on tablets and smartphones. And as always, our website continues to be fully accessible. Let’s check what’s under the hood with the updated site! What’s New? Clear, streamlined information—Find out if Bookshare is right for you, and read…

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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 30, 2014

Build Independence with Bookshare Web Reader

Do you know someone who is ready to read on their own? Bookshare Web Reader is a free, easy-to-use reading tool for Individual Members. Readers like Kevin and Kelly use it to read books for school and fun on any computer with Internet access. What makes Bookshare Web Reader so great? Read books directly from a supported Internet browser on your computer (no need to install specialized software) Log into Bookshare, find a book, and select “Read Now” Read with text-to-speech voices and word highlighting (on supported browsers) Ready to get started? Make sure you or your student has an…

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Published September 29, 2014

Individual Members Inspire Us to Read Independently with Bookshare Web Reader

Our members continue to inspire us! That’s why in this post, we’re sharing two stories of teen members who use Bookshare Web Reader to read about the things they love…independently. Bookshare Web Reader is a free reading tool for Individual Members and is a great way to access Bookshare books quickly and easily with an Internet browser. This web-based reader does not require specialized software. Read these inspiring stories now, and please share with others who want to read on their own! Kelly Enjoys Reading Freedom! Kelly Schneider is a 17-year-old Bookshare Individual Member who loves the flexibility of reading…

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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 22, 2014

Logged Into Bookshare, But Can’t Download. Renew Today!

If you’ve tried logging into your account but were unable to download books, it’s possible that your Bookshare membership has expired. Although Individual Memberships are free for U.S. students with print disabilities, it’s important to keep your school information up-to-date every year too. This will ensure a smooth transition back-to-school and uninterrupted access to the books you need for school and fun! Bookshare Support Portal and Renewal Reminders Bookshare does send out email reminders to renew your account. Remember too, that you can always visit our support portal to find answers to commonly asked questions about membership. If you’ve missed…

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Published September 16, 2014

Bookshare Mentor Teachers Go Extra Mile to Inspire Independent Readers

Dedication is the one word we use when referring to the more than 500 U.S. teachers and specialists who participate in the Bookshare Mentor Teacher program. Because of their commitment throughout the school year, hundreds, if not thousands, of new educators, parents, and students with qualified print disabilities are now members of Bookshare. They can effectively use the library and reading technologies for academic success. Are you an educator who wants to go the extra mile to ensure reading equality and independence? Do you want to empower more students to stay on task with reading assignments in school and become…

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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 29, 2014

Winners of the 2014 Summer of Sleuths Contest!

We promised members that Bookshare’s 6th annual Summer of Sleuths reading contest would be the best summer contest to date. And guess what? It was! Congratulations to everyone who participated! From June 16 to August 1, 2014, 285 individual members, from kindergarteners to adults, grabbed their magnifying glasses and got busy reading and solving fun mysteries from detective stories in the Bookshare library. Did you have fun? Share your favorite book with us on Facebook or Pinterest, or Tweet about your experience at #SummerOfSleuths. Drum Roll Please…Here Are Our 2014 Winners by Category! Congratulations to all of the following contestants. …

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Category: Special Education Accommodations