Better+Accessibility+Through+Technology

Better Accessibility Through Technology
Text-to-Speech The following should accompany all purchase orders for textbooks so that the textbooks will then be available to (only) students on IEP plans with a visual disability, a learning disability or a physical disability. The available textbooks will then be available digitally (with Read-OutLoud). These books are available at [|http://www.bookshare.org/]
 * Digital Text**

"By agreeing to deliver the materials marked with "NIMAS" on this contract or purchase order, the publisher agrees to submit a valid NIMAS file set to the NIMAC at the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH). Should the vendor be a distributor of the materials and not the publisher, the distributor agrees to immediately notify the publisher of its obligation to submit NIMAS file sets of the purchased products to the NIMAC. This is page _ __of__ _ of this contract or purchase order."

See also: http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/assistive/nimas.html

Sandra has signed up Waltham district and the next steps are:
 * to upload a list of students who should have access to the content (Sped teachers or department would need to identify)
 * search http://www.bookshare.org/ for our textbooks
 * notify if books are not there - See: http://www.doe.mass.edu/edtech/assistive/digitaltext.html

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic http://www.rfbd.org/ What makes them different? A specialized player with speed control, bookmarks, scroll through by speed, time jumps... Recorded by human volunteers (29 recording studios across the country with subject expertise) Visuals in textbooks are described
 * Audiobooks**

Blind low vision – anyone can download Reading disability – must have a doctor’s appointment

Level 1 $350 25 books per year Level II $500 50 books per year Level III $950 100 books per year

Waltham has a district license but is a district that is targeted for further follow-up: e.g. school license, maybe training... (Contact in Waltham is SPED secretary, Marcia Delaney )

Jeanne Guiney Regional Director of Educational Outreach

[|www.learningthroughlistening.org] Good resource for lesson plans.
 * Suggested Resource**