Instructional Materials for Students with Visual Impairments Kirk Behnke M.Ed, ATP Cecilia Robinson M.Ed State Leadership Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Network

Agenda Texas Road Map for Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Eligibility Print Disability Specialized Formats Acquisition of AIM AIM Navigator Resources Comments and Suggestions 2012 Texas Focus2Region 4 ESC

The Texas Road Map for Accessible Instructional Materials Developed to help give a visual GPS to help you navigate the way through accessible instructional material acquisition Provides 2 routes: Eligibility and acquisition routes 2012 Texas Focus3Region 4 ESC

2012 Texas Focus4Region 4 ESC

Eligibility 1.Blind persons: visual acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction or visual field no greater than 20° 2.Persons certified by competent authority: even with correction, visual disability is preventing the reading of standard printed materials 2012 Texas Focus5Region 4 ESC

Eligibility 3.Persons certified by competent authority: unable to read or use standard printed materials due to physical limitations 4.Persons certified by competent authority: have reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction and of sufficient severity to prevent their reading of printed materials in a normal manner 2012 Texas Focus6Region 4 ESC

Print Disability Student /child is not able to use standard print materials Frequently the result of a visual impairment, physical disability or reading disability Meets copyright criteria for specialized formats Federal definition of “Print Disability” Texas Focus7Region 4 ESC

Accessible Instructional Materials Included in IDEA 2004 Requires that core instructional materials be provided in a timely manner in specialized formats when needed by students with disabilities 4 specialized formats: Braille, large print, audio and digital text 2012 Texas Focus8Region 4 ESC

Braille Tactile literacy medium used by learners who are blind Uses six dots, presented in various combinations, to represent text, numbers, punctuation, and special signs and symbols Can be accessed using technology such as a PDA (e.g. note-taker) or braille display 2012 Texas Focus9Region 4 ESC

Large Print Enlarged copy of regular-print-sized materials Facilitates ease of reading for learners with low vision At least 18 point and larger Readability depends on font type, use of white space and other features (e.g. bold or underline vs. italicized text) APH Print Guidelines for Document Design Texas Focus10Region 4 ESC

Audio Sound files Does not include text Includes recorded files, usually saved as Wave or MP3 files Files can be accessed using the computer (e.g. Windows Media Player) or portable media players (e.g. iPod, Book Port Plus, VictorReader Stratus) 2012 Texas Focus11Region 4 ESC

Digital Text May be referred to as electronic text or E-text Provides visual and auditory supports Available in various formats such as online HTML or EPub Can be accessed using specialized software (e.g. Read Hear™) or hardware (e.g. Apex, VictorReader Stratus, VictorReader Stream) 2012 Texas Focus12Region 4 ESC

Texas Focus13Region 4 ESC

Authorized Users for Texas Bookshare Learning Ally Texas Focus14Region 4 ESC

Publishers and Others American Printing House for the Blind is also a federally-funded Accessible Media Provider Accessible materials can also be purchased from publishers (e.g. Pearson) and other commercial resources stribution/commercial stribution/commercial Top 10 questions to ask publishers: Texas Focus15Region 4 ESC

Determination of Materials Things to consider: Learner’s needs Recommendations from personnel Availability Implementation and support Parental involvement Environments Technologies 2012 Texas FocusRegion 4 ESC16

AIM Navigator Interactive tool to facilitate the process of decision-making of AIM for individual learners Process consists of 4 major decision points: determination of need selection of format(s) acquisition of format(s) selection of supports for use Useful resources provided to help guide the ARD committee Texas Focus17Region 4 ESC

Resources Texas Education Agency Instructional Materials and Educational Technology Texas Assistive Technology Network State Leadership Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Network TSBVI: Accessible Textbooks Clearinghouse clearinghouse 2012 Texas Focus18Region 4 ESC

Resources AIM Consortium National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials DAISY Consortium Louis Plus from American Printing House for the Blind Texas Focus19Region 4 ESC

Resources National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Learning Ally: Learning and Listening American Foundation for the Blind: Family Connect® -- Education Texas Focus20Region 4 ESC

Comments/Suggestions How can we help you? 2012 Texas Focus21Region 4 ESC

Contact Us at Region 4 Kirk Behnke Cecilia Robinson Texas Focus22Region 4 ESC