Joanne,
Try the American Printing House for the Blind (http://www.aph.org) They
offer several large print titles of books but the YA books are somewhat
limited.
Another resource is Library Reproduction Services
http://www.lrs-largeprint.com/ They have several titles available but they
are somewhat costly compared to APH (which should be subsidized by Federal
Quota Funds from the government). You can check their online catalog for
books or you can even submit the material that you want to place in large
print and choose the size of the print...but again, it's costly.
Another link for large print (and braille / recorded books) is available at:
http://www.99main.com/~charlief/vi/reading.html
Each of these offers different services.
You should also check with your state's library for the blind for materials
that are available free of charge. If the large print books are not
available, you will probably need to turn to the services that offer the
materials at a price.
Just as a side note: If materials that are needed are not available in
large print, the student may need to learn how to utilize a CCTV or print
magnifying device in order to read books that are necessary for his / her
education. Most of these pieces of equipment are costly but the needs are
usually covered by the state's department of rehabilitation services or the
department of human services / services for the blind or visually impaired.
You should also check with the student's visual itinerant teacher for
additional resources (large print or magnifying devices) that are offered
through your state or school district / region. Most of these are offered
without cost to the school, if materials or equipment are available.
Finally, from an individual who understands both sides of the issue, your
teacher needs to understand that reading for the visually impaired student
is frustrating and difficult. Given the opportunity to use recorded books
is NOT cheating and will help the student in other areas, including learning
how to listen for specific details and gain information through aural
communication. Because most regular classroom teachers who work with the
visually impaired do not understand the difficulties that students have in
learning how to utilize the remaining vision for reading and the problems
that it can cause for the student (frustrating, depression, anxiety,
stress), they attempt to increase print size without looking at the issue
fully. One additional way to help this student would be to allow the
recorded formats to be available along with the large print (or regular
print and magnification device). The accessibility of both will help the
student to keep up with his peers and increase his comprehension of the
materials, since reading with limited vision is slow and tedious, thus
reducing comprehension of the materials read once they are identified
clearly.
This is a very frustrating problem, I know, because I was a librarian for
ten years at a state school for blind and visually impaired students in
Oklahoma. I was the also the state-contact for educational resources for
teachers, librarians, and administrators in public schools. I have compiled
tons of materials on this subject and the resources change yearly, but
because my husband is also visually impaired, I stay up-to-date on a lot of
resources (he's also a teacher for the blind and visually impaired within
the public schools in Fort Worth, so that helps too!)
Let me know if you need additional help or resources. If you're looking for
a specific title and can't find it, let me know!
Good luck!
~Shonda Brisco
Trinity Valley MS / US Librarian
Fort Worth, TX
sbrisco021@charter.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joanne Shawhan" <jshawhan@NYCAP.RR.COM>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2003 8:10 AM
Subject: GEN, SEC: Source for Large Print YA Books
> Dear Group,
>
> I am looking for a source to buy large print books, particularly YA
> books. As I have mentioned before, I am collaborating with an English
> teacher on a course on the literature of war. I will be in charge of
> the literature circles. One of the students in the class has a visual
> impairment and can only read large type books. I have tried Amazon for
> some of the titles with little luck. If absolutely necessary my aide
> will copy and enlarge the books for him, but obviously that is a
> marginal solution, both from a copyright and an effort standpoint. The
> teacher does not want him to use audiobooks.
>
> All suggestions welcome.
>
> Joanne
>
>
> --
> Joanne Shawhan
> Library Media Specialist
> Cobleskill-Richmondville High School
> 1353 State Route 7
> Richmondville NY 12149
> (518)234-3565 x1151, 1152
> (518) 234-9006 (fax)
> jshawhan@nycap.rr.com
> shawhanj@crcs.k12.ny.us
> http://www.crcs.k12.ny.us/lib/hs/index.htm
>
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