1. Super Summer Readers at ESC Region 11, GITWL Dec. 9, 2017
Increasing Literacy for students with Visual impairments through a regional summer reading club and collaborative partnership
Super Summer Readers at ESC Region 11, GITWL
Dec. 9, 2017

2. What do you think is the biggest barrier to literacy for your students?
Picture of two hands reading braille

3. Who We are Number of Students with Visual Impairment 2016 Texas: 9900
Region 11:
ESC size of Massachusetts
Map of Counties Served by Region 11

4. Focus on literacy – Texas education agency
The State Systemic Improvement Plan, SPP Indicator 17, is focused on implementing strategies to improve reading proficiency rates for all children with disabilities, grades 3 – 8.

5. Access t0 the Expanded core curriculum
IEP for students with visual impairment contains a supplement that requires a detailed description of arrangements to provide instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum. §30.002(c)(4)
Compensatory skills
Orientation and mobility skills
Social interaction skills
Career planning
Assistive Technology
Independent living
Recreation and leisure
Self-determination
Sensory efficiency

6. Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty
Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.
Kate DiCamillo
Picture of woman reading to a young girl

7. our committee
Karen Beard, Bookshare.org Deborah Burnette, Arlington ISD Jennifer Hauber, Fort Worth ISD Mary Ivey, Fort Worth ISD
Perkie Cannon, ESC 11 Consultant Visual Impairment
Morgan Tucker, ESC11consultant digital learning and
Stephanie Walker, ESC 11 State Lead for Visual Impairment

8. Our questions and Our Focus
What do students need to encourage and foster reading?
What would students need to obtain accessible reading materials over the summer?
How can we reach out to teachers or visually impaired students, parents/guardians of students, and community organizations?

9. Stakeholder Identified needs
Awareness of the program for TVIs and families
Access to books through local, state and national programs
Incentives for reading materials
Motivation-connection to other readers through the summer to maintain momentum in reading
Access to technology for electronic connection and access to literature
Low tech solutions for students without home internet access

10. Support for Teachers and Families
Information on Super Summer reading program disseminated to the following:
Teachers via listserv, webinars and social media
Families via teachers of students with visual impairments, through informational program with parent organization, Texas Association of Parents of students with Visual Impairment, TAPVI and through HHSC, Blind Children’s Program activity
Webinar Series on Accessible Media
Bookshare.org
Learning Ally
Talking Books/BARD program

11. Webinars and information on Accessible Media for teachers and Parents
Bookshare.org – electronic text for large print, braille and/or audio books
Free school and individual memberships
Learning Ally – human voice audio books and print-audio downloads
Free school memberships. Teachers can download selections of books before end of school year. Individual memberships available for a fee.

12. Webinars and information on Accessible Media for teachers and Parents
Talking Books/BARD – provides free delivery of large print, print-braille books, braille books and audio books
Free individual memberships – registration forms available
New registrations of 30 children
Local libraries – selections of large print and regular audio books. Some have braille selections
Free membership to residents
Internet availability
Increased access

13. Ways vision professionals can support summer reading
Give applications to students and their families
Assist students with enrolling on-line into Canvas
Encourage students to attend a kick-off or review the recording of the kick-off.
Contact the student to congratulate him
Or her on reading log achievements.

14. Ways vision professionals can support summer reading
If using Learning Ally, download books for the student
If using Bookshare.org, either download selections and/or help the student obtain an individual membership to Bookshare.org
If the student is using Talking Books/BARD, practice ordering on-line or talking to the librarian.

15. Key Elements of “Super Summer Readers Book Club”
A program to encourage students with visual impairment to read books though the summer, June 1 – July 31, 2017
Special activities for students with visual impairments
Opportunities to share ideas and books on-line
and in-person
Incentives for reading books

16. Students incentives for reading
Levels of completed reading to receive an incentive varied by grade level or by individual goals set by students and teachers.
To log individual goals, .
Elementary, Gr. K – 4: 5 books or 50 pages
Middle School, Gr. 5 – 8: 50 pages
High School, Gr. 9 – 12: 100 pages

17. Students incentives for reading
Incentives such as stickers, assorted items, card games, etc. were mailed to students enrolled in the program upon receipt of logs of books or pages read
Students reported their reading progress by
Mailing post cards
Logging their reading in Canvas on-line
Picture of a star

18. Picture of post card used for tracking reading activity

19. Super summer Reader special activities
Kickoffs for Students at local libraries:
Central Library, Fort Worth, May 25, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Lake Arlington Branch, Arlington Library, June 1, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Book reading and activities with librarians
Discussion and demonstration of book access through
Bookshare.org
Learning Ally
Talking Books & BARD
Local library resources
HIMS representative to problem solve with Braille
sense note taker download of books
Tour of library

20. Super summer Reader special activities
Student Summer Activities to celebrate “Super Reader” fun
June 21, Fort Worth Lighthouse for the Blind, Rock Wall Climbing
July 19, “Meet a Dinosaur Hunter” at ESC 11
August 12, ESC 11 – End of book club celebration and family literacy activities with TAPVI

21. Results of first Summer Reading Book Club
24 Students registered
8 students submitted post cards with reading logs
6 students read braille
101 books were read by 8 students
1 Girl read 40 books!
20 students registered with Talking Books program

22. Did the summer reading program support expanded core curriculum? How?

23. What were some of the benefits of Super Summer readers Book Club?
Students engaged in reading – either braille, print or audio
Students had fun reading, which is a great recreation/leisure activity
Students used technology
Audio books, braille note takers or other refreshable braille devices, or use video magnification
Students exercised self-determination through choice making for book selections and/or interacting with librarians on-line or in person
Students traveled and learned about community resources (e.g., libraries and Lighthouse for the Blind).
Students and families connected with each other through activities.
Increased knowledge and awareness of resources for students with visual impairments and increased community involvement.

24. Next Steps – Questions to consider
Increasing numbers of students in the program
Outreach to parents
Outreach to teachers of students with visual impairments
Input from older students regarding interests/needs for a book club
Increasing local library access
Developing student goals prior to or at the start of the book club
Developing ways to increase student connections through student blog or discussion posts
Other?

25. Contact Information
Perkie Cannon,
Education Service Center Region 11
White Settlement, Texas
Thanks to the Super Summer Readers Book Club Committee:
Karen Beard, Bookshare.org; Deborah Burnette, Arlington ISD; Jennifer Hauber, FWISD; Kristen King, FWISD; Morgan Tucker, ESC 11; and Stephanie Walker, ESC 11 State Lead for Visual Impairment