Maine CITE Program Training Webinar Everyone Needs to Know About Learning Ally and Bookshare January 16, 2013

2Presenter Cynthia Curry, Maine AIM Program

Participants will understand the National purpose of Bookshare and Learning Ally as providers of accessible instructional materials (AIM). Membership requirements for both services. Similarities and differences of the two services. Reading tool options.

AMPs

“Accessible Media Producers” Producers of specialized formats of copyrighted materials. Digital text. Audio. Large print. Braille.

Specialized Format Digital Text Bookshare Human- Narrated Audio Learning Ally

Standard print book p. 126 The House of Seven Gables

Standard print book Bookshare Digital Text p. 126 The House of Seven Gables

Standard print book Bookshare Learning Ally Digital Text Human- Narrated Audio p. 126 The House of Seven Gables

Exclusive Permission 1996 Chafee Amendment to the U.S. Copyright Act

“Print disability” “A condition related to o Blindness. o visual impairment. o specific learning disability. o or other physical condition. in which the student needs an alternate or specialized format in order to access and gain information from conventional printed materials.”

Steps to Successful AIM Implementation The team: ① Determines the student’s need for specialized format(s). ② Selects the appropriate format(s). ③ Acquires the material in the required format(s). ④ Supports the use of the material with assistive technology.

Steps to Successful AIM Implementation ① Determine the student’s need for alternative format(s). ② Select the appropriate format(s). ③ Acquire the material in the required format(s). ④ Use the material with assistive technology.

Steps to Successful AIM Implementation ① Determine the student’s need for alternative format(s). ② Select the appropriate format(s). ③ Acquire the material in the required format(s). ④ Use the material with assistive technology.

Qualification for Bookshare and Learning Ally Certified proof of the student’s print disability by a Competent Authority for o Visual impairment or blindness/low vision. o Physical disability. o Learning disability/reading disability.

Competent Authorities DisabilityExamples of Competent Authorities Visual impairment of blindness/low vision. family doctor, optometrist, TVI, special education teacher, certification from NLS. Physical disability.family doctor/other medical professional, PT, special education teacher. Learning disability/reading disability.neurologist, LD specialist, special education teacher, school psychologist.

Bookshare Includes textbooks for students who are both “Chafee- qualified” and have IEPs.

Bookshare Basics Materials in digital text format (DAISY). See and hear words read aloud (speech synthesis). Listen to books with audio only (speech synthesis). Read in braille (BRF).

Bookshare Basics Materials in digital text format (DAISY). See and hear words read aloud (speech synthesis). Listen to books with audio only (speech synthesis). Read in braille (BRF). Compatible reading tools provided by Bookshare and available commercially.

Bookshare Basics Materials in digital text format (DAISY). See and hear words read aloud (speech synthesis). Listen to books with audio only (speech synthesis). Read in braille (BRF). Compatible reading tools provided by Bookshare and available commercially. Free memberships to U.S. schools and qualifying U.S. students (K-12, colleges & universities, all other educational institutions).

Bookshare Membership Options Individual. Individuals can have their own membership and also be listed on an organization’s membership. Default number of books/month is 100, which can be increased. Organizational. Teachers and/or staff members download books for students.

Options for Reading Bookshare Books Free Bookshare readers. Commercial computer software. Apps for mobile phones and tablets. AT devices.

Free Bookshare Readers Read:OutLoud 6 Version 2.1 Bookshare Edition (Mac and PC). Designed for people with learning disabilities. See and hear the text (speech synthesis). Take notes. Look up definitions. Free Acapela TTS voices. Victor Reader Soft Bookshare Edition (PC only). Designed for people who are blind or have low vision. Free Acapela TTS voices.

Bookshare on Mobile Phones & Tablets Read2Go. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch. $19.99 in the Mac App Store. GoRead. Android. Free. Optimized for readers with blindness or low vision. Mobile Speak. Symbian or Windows Mobile. Screen reading software for mobile phones. Text to speech or braille output.

Commercial Software and Bookshare Books Kurzweil 1000 and Kurzweil 3000 from Kurzweil. OpenBook from Freedom Scientific. Read&Write Gold from TextHELP. WYNN from Freedom Scientific. JAWS for Windows from Freedom Scientific. Window-Eyes from GW Micro.

Bookshare Insider’s Tip Two new features “will significantly help facilitate students’ reading independence and make things easier for teachers.” Students will need Individual Memberships: Once a student has an organizational membership, print a pre-filled form in the Members roster for parent/guardian signature (if under 18) and submit to Bookshare.

Learning Ally Includes textbooks for students who are both “Chafee- qualified” and have IEPs.

Learning Ally Basics Material in audio format (DAISY). Human-narrated audio. Growing collection of K-12 materials with human audio synced with digital text (example: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Shelf number: KP052)). Compatible reading tools provided by Learning Ally. Teacher Ally web-based tool.

Learning Ally Membership Options Individual (free Learning Ally reading tools). Organizational (free Learning Ally reading tools).

Learning Ally Membership Options Individual (free Learning Ally reading tools). $119/year for unlimited books. Organizational (free Learning Ally reading tools).

Learning Ally Membership Options Individual (free Learning Ally reading tools). $119/year for unlimited books. Organizational (free Learning Ally reading tools). 1.Introduction Bundle. 2.Site license.

Learning Ally Membership Options Individual (free Learning Ally reading tools). $119/year for unlimited books. Organizational (free Learning Ally reading tools). 1.Introduction Bundle. $79/student for minimum of 10 students. Unlimited books. 2.Site license.

Learning Ally Membership Options Individual (free Learning Ally reading tools). $119/year for unlimited books. Organizational (free Learning Ally reading tools). 1.Introduction Bundle. $79/student for minimum of 10 students. Unlimited books. 2.Site license. Unlimited number of students. Based on the total number of students (school population) x $2.99.

Free Learning Ally Reading Tools Learning Ally ReadHear by gh (Mac and PC). Learning Ally Audio app (iOS). Set up for multiple users. Connected to Teacher Ally web-based tool to capture data on student activity. (Android app to come).

Learning Ally Insider’s Tip Learning Ally has on-site professional development workshops: “Effective Instruction for All Students.” “Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners.” “Teaming for Solutions to Meet Student Needs.” Parent Workshop.

Key Points Bookshare and Learning Ally are both Accessible Media Producers (AMPs) that contribute to the acquisition of specialized formats by schools. Bookshare provides materials in digital text format. Learning Ally provides materials in audio format. Both services provide textbooks and core curricular materials.* Both services are student, teacher, and family- oriented.

Thank You Please visit the Maine AIM Program online