DeafBlind Literacy Resources
Story Time virtual book readings
Join DeafBlind Central and Central Michigan University's CHARGE Syndrome Research Lab for some of your favorite stories! All Story Time readings have ASL interpreting, corresponding vocabulary videos, and experience boxes! To learn more about this project, watch our introduction video from Kristin Knight, our Family Engagement Coordinator, or read the Story Time flyer!
Additional literacy resources
Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College Adapted Literature and Lessons
On this page, you will find a searchable list of ALL adapted literature available. The Sherlock Center is committed to helping students with severe disabilities to participate in the general curriculum. As resources permit, the Sherlock Center creates adapted versions of popular literature for use by students, teachers, and families.
Literacy Access for All
Ensuring Access to the General Curriculum for All Learners provides educators and other specialists with the strategies, research, and support resources to effectively design instruction and assessment in a way that provides universal access across courses, lessons, and learning activities.
ABC's of IOS
Accessibility features are built-into the iPad at no additional cost to the consumer. The ABC's of IOS: A VoiceOver Manual for Toddlers and Beyond manual will specifically address age-appropriate VoiceOver accessibility skills for children age 3 to 8 who are or will potentially be braille readers, dual media, or auditory readers.
Assistive technology
Computers for the Blind (CFTB) is a volunteer organization devoted to providing computers to persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Bookshare
Funded by the Office of Special Education Programs and USDOE, Bookshare provides ebooks is free to U.S. schools and students with qualified reading barriers. Qualified non-students may also join by paying a low annual fee. Students can read along to over one million books available in alternative formats including large text, braille, and more. Ebooks are also accessible to students on the electronic devices of their choosing, with the ability to download books as well.
Braille books
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF) is making its free Braille books for blind children available online as downloadable BRF files. The BRF files are ready to be used on Braille note takers and other Braille-aware devices.
Braille Touch application for iPhone
Looking for a faster and easier way to type on your iPhone or iPod touch? You can use VoiceOver to read and navigate. Visit the Apple website to review a list of supported braille displays that you can use with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Community Health and Literacy Program
Bilingual literacy begins at home. Families with a child who is deafblind can receive mentoring to develop literacy skills. To learn more, visit the Community Health and Literacy program website or email Lexy Craig or call 313-449-8152.
Book Creator accessibility features
Book Creator is a publishing tool for creating digital books that incorporate text, images, audio and video. You can use Book Creator to create your own media-rich teaching resources that engage and provide multiple means of representation for all learners. Or you can let students take over and use the same tools to express their understanding in creative and authentic ways. Join us to learn about the accessibility supports built into Book Creator that make it possible for diverse learners to become published authors.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Any resident of the United States or American citizen living abroad who is unable to read or use normal print materials as a result of temporary or permanent visual or physical limitations may receive service through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. This includes those who are blind, have a visual disability that prevents them from reading normal print, or have a physical disability that keeps them from being able to hold a book.
Literacy for children with combined vision and hearing loss
The Literacy for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss website provides ideas for literacy and assessment of literacy skills for students who are deafblind.
Literacy for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss website
Mathematics instructional videos
The International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) has a Math Made Easy YouTube channel. These instructional videos are for educators and families to help teach mathematics to students with vision impairment in primary and secondary school. More videos will be uploaded on a regular basis.
Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics
American Printing House (APH) has a free downloadable tutorial for Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics. The Nemeth Tutorial teaches students and teachers how to use the Nemeth code from introductory topics to advanced topics in Mathematics.
Getting to know EPUB
The webinar Reading for All, Part 1: Getting to Know EPUB will address basic questions about EPUB: what it is, how it benefits learners, and where you can find high-quality EPUB titles so you can begin exploring the personalized reading experience they provide. With this information as a foundation, you and your team will be ready to delve into the use and creation of EPUB in more detail in the remaining two webinars of the series.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
Seedlings Braille Books for Childrenprovides high quality, free and low cost Braille books for children. Thanks to hundreds of generous donors and dedicated, hard-working volunteers, the price of Seedlings' books remains far below actual production costs, averaging only $10 per book.
Visual Impairment Program at San Francisco State University
1-hour TechTalks now available. Topics include #Chromebooks #accessibility, #TactileGraphics with a swell machine, and how to use a document camera as a video magnifier.
The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, #H326T180045. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. - Project Officer, Eric Caruso.
Website: U.S. Office of Special Education Programs IDEAs That Work