Aligning Assistive Reading Tools to the Needs of Students with Print Disabilities
This course is designed to provide an understanding of a broad range of assistive reading software and devices available for students with print disabilities in order to identify the appropriate tools for the unique needs of each student. Through an interactive hands-on curriculum, participants will study the use, features, and benefits of accessible instructional materials and electronic reading tools from a variety of vendors. This will guide decision making, as it relates to assistive technology selections and basing those selections on the individual needs of the student. Providing tools and accessible materials to students fosters independence for reading textbooks and thousands of other books.
Participants will increase their knowledge and skills in effective decision-making to ensure students with print disabilities are able to access electronic educational materials with appropriate assistive technology software and hardware. Effective integration of accessible instructional materials into the classroom will support improved student results in accessing, participating, and progressing in the educational curriculum.
Key features of the course curriculum include: identifying print disabilities, matching learning styles with relevant tools through case studies, downloading digital accessible instructional materials and learning and assessing assistive technology product features , along with the creation of action plans that can be taken back into the classroom for immediate implementation.
Beyond the workshop
Bookshare's support extends beyond the workshop for sustained results. The effectiveness of this workshop will be enhanced through online follow-up coaching scheduled after a workshop. Coaching will focus on each participant's progress and implementation of action plans. Bookshare's goal is to support long-term improved outcomes for students with print disabilities using accessible instructional materials.
Participant Outcomes
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify a broad range of assistive reading software and devices, including features, benefits, and use
- Effectively match product features to the unique needs of a student
- Foster independent learning by integrating tools and accessible materials into the classroom and ultimately as a component of the students' curriculum
- Ensure every student is able to access electronic educational materials, and is doing so with the most efficient assistive technology, based on the unique needs of the student
- Share best practices and learn new successes by participating in the post-course workshop where exposure to new ideas among peers in the industry is shared during a one (1) hour coaching session offered/scheduled after a workshop.
Workshop Registration
Course Length: 1-day; on-site
Course Fee: (see Workshop Inquiry)
