Sorry, forgot that LM_NET didn't support attachments.
You cannot spend a significant portion of your budget on one student...
interlibrary loan everything you need... don't spend unless there are
other regular students who will use the same items. Something that will
be used once is not a good allocation of your funds... unless you get a
grant specifically for that purpose.... your public library will
probably have lots... or be able to interlibrary loan things for you.
______________________________________________________________
The best thing to do is to contact the Sp Ed department as ask to read
the child's IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and see what is
required. After that, you may want to contact his/her current librarian
and see what has been done in the past. Then make your decision. You
may want to talk to the student and the parents as well.
______________________________________________________________
I have astudent who is able to read at very close range but he is
steadily losing his eyesight. I would contact her Sped. Ed teacher and
see who the contact person is for the school for the blind. she should
have someone who works with her and they would know how best to meet her
needs.
______________________________________________________________
I would talk to the public library in your area, and see if they have
materials or would be able to borrow from their network of libraries.
Also, is there a state organization that can provide you/ your blind
student with services? Missouri has a program like this, and they have
helped librarians I know. You might check with your state dept. of ed.
______________________________________________________________
I have had students in the past that are visually impaired and are
served by the state library. Check and see if you have a library for
visually impaired patrons. They provided audio books, books in Braille,
and large print books where appropriate over the past several years for
these students.
______________________________________________________________
I would purchase audio books that could be accessed by students with
other disabilities as well (LD, etc). Does your public library have
materials in Braille? (Is the student learning Braille?) If so, either
suggest her teacher borrow items for use in the classroom or do so
yourself. Our bookmobile visits each of our elementary schools during
the year and our teachers can request special items to be delivered at
that time. Just some thoughts. At least you have some lead time to plan.
Good luck!
______________________________________________________________
We have a lot of students who are blind ;-)
A large part of CSB's collection is audio books. Most of our students
prefer audio books over Braille or large print (for low vision
students). That being said, I do have a few students who prefer
Braille/large print. (FYI you can find our catalog at www.csb-cde.ca.gov
and scroll down to "online library catalog")
Other students, particularly students with learning disabilities, will
also benefit from having audio books available. Good commercial
publishers include Listening Library (www.booksontape.com) and Recorded
Books (www.recordedbooks.com).
You could also see if you can get an institutional membership to your
local branch of the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped. NLS provides audio books (cassettes and now
digital books) as well as books in Braille. Here is a list of the local
branches:
Arkansas
Regional Library
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 900 West Capitol
Avenue, Suite 100 Little Rock, AR 72201-3108
Librarian: John D Hall
Library Code: AR1A
Telephone: (501) 682-1155
Toll-free (In-state): (866) 660-0885
TDD: (501) 682-1002
FAX: (501) 682-1529
E-mail: nlsbooks@asl.lib.ar.us
Web site: http://www.asl.lib.ar.us/ASLBPH.htm
Hours of Operation: 8:00-5:00 M-F
Serves: Arkansas
Subregional Library
Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Southwest Columbia County Library
2057 North Jackson
P.O. Box 668
Magnolia, AR 71754
Librarian (acting): Sandra D Grissom
Library Code: AR1E
Telephone: (870) 234-0399
Toll-free (In-state): (866) 234-8273
FAX: (870) 234-5077
E-mail: lbph@hotmail.com
Hours of Operation: 9:00-5:00 M-F
Serves: Bradley, Calhoun, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Hempstead,
Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Polk,
Sevier, and Union counties
If you student has a BrailleNote (an electronic notetaker) or something
like a Victor Reader Stream (a Daisy book player) NLS has books that can
be downloaded in Braille (web-braille) and Daisy formatted audio.
Another source is Bookshare (www.bookshare.org). Check under
"memberships" for info on how to become an organizational member - it's
free to all US schools.
NLS and Bookshare will require verification of your student's
disability.
Do you have an automated catalog or access to databases? See if you can
have a screen reader program (like JAWS for Windows) installed on at
least one of the library computers so your student can have access to
the catalog/databases like her sighted peers.
For help with all of this, talk with her VI teacher (teacher of the
visually impaired) to see how you can help locate materials for your
student. A lot of VI teachers don't even think to ask the librarian at
the school for help!
______________________________________________________________
I would see if you can set up a link where she can have her requested
books delivered to your campus for check out.
______________________________________________________________
IN TEXAS You can get audio books from the Texas state Library they
Have a program "THE TALKING BOOK PROGRAM" When the student is approved
they will send a player and an audio book to the student's home. They
will also loan you a player to use in the school but it must be returned
at the end of the school year.
THE STATE OF TEXAS supplies Large print and braille textbooks. Audio
textbooks are a available from RFB&D.org for a fee about $35.00 a year
or if the district has a large number of these students them there is a
lump fee the school can pay that usually comes out to less.
now is not too soon to be worrying about this. It took me a month to
get large print textbooks from the publisher.
______________________________________________________________
The first thing I'd do is contact the parents and student to find out
her interests and needs. Then I'd get myself to a university library,
the local public library, or anywhere I could get some books on how to
and how NOT to treat a blind person. Also check with your state
education department for any suggestions they have. You will need to
start educating your students about what to do/not to do.
Humorous true story: Last fall our church had a month-long mission
festival that culminated with Rev. David Andrus (who is totally blind)
speaking. Part of the service was supposed to include people reading
John 3:16 in various languages. Our pastor asked Rev. Andrus if he could
sign (!) it. Rev. Andrus said he could not, but he could hold his
Braille Bible so that people could see him reading it with his fingers.
Oh yes, our pastor has a Ph.D. We still tease him about that once in a
while!
______________________________________________________________
As it turns out, our newspaper, The Boston Globe, just did a story
involving the producer of the tv show "Friends" teaching a video class
at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. Along with the story,
they also did a video, which I have linked here:
http://multimedia.boston.com/m/30214785/filming-the-unseen.htm#q=blind+s
tudent+video
<http://multimedia.boston.com/m/30214785/filming-the-unseen.htm#q=blind+
student+video>
I think everyone, especially the students in the school, will enjoy this
unique perspective. Might be a good ice-breaker for the fall. Good luck!
______________________________________________________________
Does she use Braille? I once had a nearly blind student when I
taught 4th grade, and the Blind services provided large print textbooks
for his use. The school purchased a larger desk for these large print
books to lay on. I don't remember if there were any books in the
library for him.
You might want to talk to the Special Ed. coordinator and determine
what this student is used to having. It's possible that many resources
can be provided through this funding, including equipment to play it on.
______________________________________________________________
Your state should have a library for the blind. Check with your special
services department to see what the procedure is in your state and if
there is a district coordinator for these services (some larger
districts have a special person). Usually they need a list of texts and
book titles that will be used in the classrooms. If you know ahead of
time what books the teacher might be using in the line of novels or unit
topics, you can request titles to fit. We had a 4-month lead time for
all our materials which were sent about a week into the school year.
They let us keep everything all year.
______________________________________________________________
I am just writing to suggest that you might read Helen Keller and/or
Louis Braille picture book biographies to your 4th graders as part of
their "biography genre unit" and then lead a discussion about their
struggles. David Adler's are good. It might help ease the new
student's integration into the school. When I teach Louis Braille, I
also buy those candy dots (white paper with dots of yellow, pink and
blue candy on them) and let the kids use the braille alphabet to form
their initials. I also bring in an awl to show them what one looks
like.
______________________________________________________________
We have some blind and low vision students within our school system. In
NJ they are entitled to services from our State commission of the blind.
They can get audiobooks from the state at their home or at school.
Special education funds (IDEA) can support equipment and braille
books/typewriters or audio book needs. In our school they have even
hired a teacher certified to work with the blind...
______________________________________________________________
We had a blind student begin at our school last year. He came with
special education resources. I don't know how they are funded. My state
offers services to the blind that he takes advantage of. He is
mainstreamed and comes to the library with his class, checks out books,
and participates in lessons to the best of his ability. He even tried to
do keyboarding. I was advised to just remember he has the same interests
and desires of his classmates.
______________________________________________________________
We use a check out with the state ours is called wolfiner maybe you can
check your state. Also we have a person come in and do some of their
books with a braille machine. Our student really did books on tape.
______________________________________________________________
You might consider exploring audio textbooks. Also consider a database
subscription like Tumblebooks.com, for audio books. The reason I did
was so that several students, including the visually impaired child, can
be on a computer reading or listening to a book and the visually
impaired child is doing the same thing as the other students--seemless
inclusion at its finest.
______________________________________________________________
I've worked with several blind students and have always facilitated
their receipt of books that we borrow -- much like we use our AEAs to
supplement our classroom collections. That was the most efficient way
-- the student could choose the titles they wanted and I also selected
titles that I thought he/she would enjoy -- and items that might
compliment their classroom work.
______________________________________________________________
I had a blind student for three years. I worked out a deal with the
local public library to check out audio books for her in my name with no
late fees for those three years. (Our school does not charge late fees
for overdue books.) She would let me know what books to check out, I'd
pick them up and make all transactions with her at school. It worked
out great!
______________________________________________________________
I don't work with any blind students, but I my school serves a large
population of students with print-based disabilities. A number of my
students use Kurzweil software, which comes in two versions--one for
blind people, and one for sighted people with reading issues (i.e.
dyslexics). At the elementary level she may not need something like
that, but as the reading load increases a similar program might be a
good idea.
As I've gotten more involved in assisstive technology/e-text, I've
learned that blind students, in general, can listen a lot faster than we
can. Most of us listen at a rate of about 170 words per minute; many
blind people listen at speeds of around 300-400 words per minute. Most
recordings designed specifically for blind students are played on a
special player that will allow the student to up the playback speed--not
something that's possible with conventional audio books. If she's
already getting books from AR School for the Blind (you might want to
look into Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic, too) she most likely
has access to that kind of technology.
That being said, I would still encourage you to start/increase your
audio book collection. Working every day with high school students with
dyslexia, I can't tell you how important audio access is to building and
supporting literacy skills.
______________________________________________________________
I suggest you phone her and ask! She is going into 5th and knows what
she needs; she will be delighted that you are being proactive and
considering her as a person who knows what she needs and wants.
______________________________________________________________
The Arkansas School for the Blind has a loan system for allowing you to
check out Braille books for your student. We checked out a lot of
Braille books for a blind student we had several years ago. The Braille
books are too expensive to buy for your own library!
______________________________________________________________
I would check with your special ed. department and her vision specialist
teacher. Many years ago we had a blind student and I did have to make
special provisions for him. Good luck.
______________________________________________________________
We have a wheel-chair bound student who is also legally blind and the
way I accommodated her was to start my Playaway collection. She loves
them! I started out with 4 or 5 titles and have added as she's "read"
them. I'm going to offer them to more patrons eventually (when I figure
out a system).
______________________________________________________________
Playaways are always nice to have anyway. The law requires her
education be accessible so any technology that she needs should be
coming from the district as a result of her IEP.
You should talk to her vision itinerant therapist to find out what she
needs. Will she have an aide? Is she low vision? Completely blind?
Does she read braille? Just like with being Deaf there are all sorts of
details we don't think about.
A lot of web sites and programs have audio now and most of my students
prefer to use headphones.
______________________________________________________________
Some FREE audio books are available:
http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/
______________________________________________________________
I saw your post about eBooks and the blind student you will have at your
school and it made me think about Web accessibility. I don't know which
EBSCOhost databases you use but I thought I'd pass on some information
about the changes we made which working with Web accessibility experts
at the Illinois Center for Instructional Technology Accessibility
(iCITA) at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
www.ebscohost.com/webaccessibility
<http://www.ebscohost.com/webaccessibility>
Your student may be able to use screen readers and keyboard controls to
access research databases. There is a video of a blind graduate student
using EBSCOhost after the changes were made which shows how easy it is
to use.
Also, there are text-to-speech features in a growing number of EBSCOhost
databases which may also be useful.
______________________________________________________________
I am emailing you not just as a media specialist, but also as a person
whose husband has always worked in the field for the blind at every
level. It is great to get braille texts, but she also needs to become
fluent, so please encourage your sp ed people to also get regular
fiction in braille. Oh, your sp ed teacher should not have to purchase
texts. Check with your state vocational rehab people. Also, I hope the
student is getting around with a white cane. This is her lifeline to
independence. She needs to use it all the time, even if the kids want to
her her. Nothing is so debilitating to a blind adult than not having
those skills. Help the family get introduced to the National Federation
of the blind chapter in Arkansas. This is an amazing group of blind
people, parents and professionals who characterize blindness as a
nuisance, not a death sentence. But, I bet you have already done all
that. Best of luck. i might have a chance to meet your student some
day if she comes to the BLIND, Incorporated Summer Camp here in the Twin
Cities. ______________________________________________________________
I have a niece that is blind and goes to public school in Kansas - and
has since she was in Kindergarten. She has a computer that scans books
and then Braille's it. So depending on how well the student reads
Braille, that might be an option. There is lots of technology now that
blind students can use to make their school experience better.
My niece is going to be a sophomore next year. She is a bright kid, just
blind. No other limitations.
You might need to visit with the special education teacher, or visual
impairment teacher and find out the how well the student reads etc.
______________________________________________________________
I didn't see the beginning of this message, but if there is anything I
can assist with I would be happy to. My daughter is 12 years old and
legally blind with some vision. I'm a huge advocate! I'm so happy that
your school's attitude is one of excitement instead of fear. You'll be
amazed! The North Carolina Library for the Blind provides our students
with digital books and are shipped free. If your state has a library for
the blind it can be of assistance and prevent your school from buying
books that they can provide. Check that out first.
______________________________________________________________
Cheyenne Lott
Library Media Specialist
lottc@wyc.afsc.k12.ar.us
Western Yell County Elementary
300 North Grand Ave.
Belleville, AR 72824
479.493.4100 (Work)
479.493.4117 (Fax)
479.518.6271 (Cell)
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