Staff Development for Better Special Education Student Outcomes
Students with print disabilities, such as blindness or low vision, a physical disability that makes it difficult or impossible to hold a book or turn pages, or a learning disability like dyslexia, are unable to access traditional print textbooks and instructional materials. They need and can have timely, equal access to the general curriculum through accessible formats, such as digital text.
The use of accessible instructional materials (AIM) reduces the barriers posed by print content and provides students with independent access to curricular materials and lots of general reading. For students with special needs, accessible instructional materials can improve student outcomes as well as reduce the costs of supporting the students.
Yet, most teachers don't know how to find and provide accessible instructional materials. These two workshops will introduce teachers to sources of AIM, such as Bookshare, and the tools they need to provide AIM in the classroom.
Bookshare offers qualified students with print disabilities almost a hundred thousand books in an on-line accessible library and the tools to read the books for free. With Bookshare, teachers can open the world of books for their students, encourage independent reading, and equalize educational opportunities.