Reading Alternatives: BOOKSHARE

The Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Federal Department of Education made a major five-year award of $32 million to Bookshare.org. This will further the objectives of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), by supplying high quality textbooks and educational materials to students with special needs. This funding is to fully support all schools and students 26 years old and under with qualifying print disabilities in the United States, K-12 and post-secondary. The Students will have access to the entire Bookshare.org collection of accessible electronic books and to software for reading those books. Bookshare titles are in digital format so can be accessed 24/7 via the Internet and downloaded onto the user’s computer. The user then uses software to convert the text to synthetic voice, digital Braille, enlarge the print size, or download the files onto a digital player. Embossed Braille copies can be requested directly from Bookshare. It is also expected that over 100,000 new educational titles in high quality DAISY and Braille formats will be added over the next five years, getting students the terrific quality textbooks they need for academic success! For more information visit: www.bookshare.org.

American Council For The Blind

You might want to check out their website. They offer a Radio Café and an interactive program. You can access them at www.acb.org or call in to the program at 1-866-400-5333. You can also e-mail questions to them at mainmenu@acbradio.org.