Welcome to a2z4adaptingliteracy
Announcements
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We hope you find these resources and websites helpful to you and your students. Sharon and Ynez
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Disclaimer: This website contains links to many other external websites. Please use with teacher and/or parent supervision.
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All links have been checked, but there is no guarantee for the images or ads seen on the external sites. Please preview before use with children.
A: Adapt!
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Students of all ability levels should have the opportunity to experience literacy to help them learn new skills or review current abilities.
Adapting literacy activities is one method used to make books accessible.
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Emergent Literacy: What Young Children Can Learn about Reading and Writing Before They Go to School
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Literacy in Individual with Severe Disabliities
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Accessible Books, What are they?
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Experiencing Literacy
Describes opportunities to "experience literacy" in a variety of ways
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Paths to Literacy
Adapting books can provide an entrance to the world of literacy (Perkins).
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Interacting with the Alphabet
ABC books
B: Books, Books, Books
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Expose students to books in every format
Print, electronic books, gel bags, baggie books, tactual books, object books, and more!
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Baggie Books
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PowerPoint Books
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Tactual Books
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Story Box and Book Bags
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Object Books, Squishy Books, Story Boxes for Older Children, etc
Scroll down to Literacy selection to select your choices of their Tip Sheets
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Texture Books, Paper Bag Books, and Gel Bags
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Squishy Books
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Tactile Books
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Hanser, G. (2010). Making simple books - read all about it!. OT Practice, 15(17)
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National Braille Press
Print/Braille books provide a sensory experience for all.
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Bookshare
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Ziplock Bag Books
Make a book with ziploc bags to protect pages, store tactile objects, etc.
C: Consulting and Cognitive Rescaling
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Consult with others. There are several specialists that can help you with adapting books. One simple change can make all the difference.
Reading Specialist, Teachers, OT, PT, Speech Therapist, AT Specialist, Vision Teacher, Art Teacher, Technology Resource Teacher,
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Lease, S. (2007, September 04). Teaming Up for Literacy in the Schools. The ASHA Leader.
Cognitive Rescaling - What is it?
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Cognitive Rescaling - Defined
As coined by Dave Edyburn, cognitive rescaling is the process of altering the cognitive difficulty of information.
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Teaching Every Student: Awesome Tools for Cognitive Rescaling
EdTech Solutions
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Spreading “The Word” about Cognitive Rescaling as a Tool for Inclusion
Cloing the Gap article by By Sally Norton-Darr and Judith Schoonover
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Cognitive re-scaling with assistive technology
By Kate Ahern
Cognitive Rescaling DIY
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SMMRY
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Tools4noobs
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Autosummarizer
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Text Compactor
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Rewordify.com
changes words in the text to an easier version to help with understanding
Cognitive Rescaling - Online Literature Summaries
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Literacy Guides summarize traditional print books to make them easier to understand.
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CliffsNotes
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SparkNotes
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TheBestNotes.com
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Pink Monkey
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shmoop
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60 second recap
You tube videos recapping classic literature
D: Deaf-Blindness
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Department of the Blind and Vision Impaired
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All Children Can Read: Literacy Skills Checklist
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Literacy for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss
Strategies designed to give children with deaf-blindness and multiple disabilities expanded learning opportunities.
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Communication for Children with Deafblindness, or Visual and Multiple Impairments
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Family Connect
Glossary of terms, etc. used with children with visual impairments
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Overview of Assistive Technology for Families with a Visually Impaired Child
from Family Connect
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Ten tips for reading aloud
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I Can Connect Program for individuals who are deaf-blind
a program to help low-income individuals obtain equipment for telecommunications (need to be able to read)
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State Projects
Organizations listed by state who support children and youth who are deaf-blind.
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Organizations for Deafblind People Throughout the World
These organizations provide services to Deafblind people and their families.
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Computers for the Blind (CFTB),
A volunteer organization devoted to providing computers to persons who are blind or visually impaired
E: Electronic Books
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Audio-assisted reading allows students who have difficulty accessing traditional literacy activities to benefit from the experience of reading.
This type of reading can include computerized stories (premade or make your own), electronic websites, or MP3
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One More Story
The advance navigation button is in a consistent location allowing single switch access to advance the story independently.
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REACH Program Portal
Portals are a great way to bookmark websites. Find more e-books in the Literacy Websites section in the REACH Program portal.
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LibriVox
Audio books and stories read aloud by real people for free!
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See section G and Q for more websites that have electronic books
F: Funding Sources & Flipping the Classroom
Funding Sources
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Literacy based websites can have subscription fees but funding these activities does not have to be hard.
Ask the PTA/PTSA to purchase a classroom subscription, do a vocational task as a fund raiser, or write a grant.
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Donors Choose
Flipping the Classroom
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Flipping a Classroom and Special Education
from Glenda's Assistive Techology Info and More...
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Blending Face-toFace and Flipping
provides an explanation of the flipped classroom and its alternative
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Flip Your Classroom
a book by the guys who started it
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Teachers turn learning upside down
'Inverted learning' allows students to practice what they learn under the guidance of their classroom teacher
G: Giveaways
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Free sources for obtaining adapted books
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Support free websites and advocate for the books you like
When able, donate to their website, like them on social media sites, and/or contact them. That may be incentive they need to ke
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Braille Institute
Free books for children with visual impairments; 4 times/year
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National Braille Press - ReadBooks! Program
Receive free books with braille for children with visual impairments - ages birth to 7 years
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ReadWorks.org - Reading Comprehension activities
ReadWorks provides research-based units, lessons, and authentic, leveled non-fiction and literary passages directly to educators
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Oakmont Visual Aids Workshop
Provides teachers of children with special needs with free tactile learning materials
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SET-BC
sample accessible books, free to download
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First Book
an online resource available exclusively to Title I schools and community-based programs serving children in need.
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Seedlings - Braille Books for Children
List of some of their ongoing special projects giving free books to kids under age 21 years -
Sheppard Software
Language Arts Games and more
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StoryJumper
Write your won stories on the web with this free resource
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The Internet Archive
a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, and more
Free websites for e-books - good for single switch access
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Place the cursor on the advance button to allow single switch control
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Hiyah.net
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LearnEnglish Kids
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Priory Woods School & Art College
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Storyplace.org
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Talking Book Library
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Tar Heel Reader
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Martha's Stories
From PBS Kids - Try True Stories and Story Books
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Wilbooks
Free online books (have to be able to read print)
More free e-books - use Application Clicker for switch access
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Application Clicker - purchase from www.rjcooper.com
Use this program to add single switch control to free websites with electronic books that run continuously.
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Barefoot Books
Try the animated videos or download the podcasts to use with Application Clicker
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Storyline Online
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Just Books Read Aloud
H: Helpful Handouts
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Pre-made handouts to help teaching staff improve their understanding and use of AT and literacy learning strategies with their students
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Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Check out the Deaf-Blind Model Classroom Resources
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Brochures from Jim Trelease
Check out "Why Read Aloud to Children?" and other brochures on reading
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Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment Project
Tips for home and school to enhance the educational services provided to children and youth, with vision and hearing impairments
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The Simon Technology Center
PACER Center resources, many are free to download
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GradeLevelReading.net
resources and research on helping students read
I: iPads
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DIY Universal Cuff
Make this for holding a stylus, etc.
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Educational Literacy Apps
Reading Rockets offers research-based and best-practice information on teaching kids to read.
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Apps for Stages©
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Epic!
free for educators
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Pictello Accessible Books
Tutorials to help you make your own iPad book using Pictello
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Signed Stories
ALS and BLS versions
Switches for the iPad
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APPlicator & Switch2Scan
from Pretorian
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Bluetooth Super Switch
from RJ Cooper & Associates
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Blue2 Bluetooth Switch
from AbleNet, Inc.
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pererro
pererro is an advanced interface device which allows access to Apple iOS devices via a switch
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Tecla Shield
from Komodo
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Comparison Grid for iPad switches
from Spectronics
J: Just for Fun
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Listening to music can be a great way to practice listening skills
And its fun too!!
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Makey Makey
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Beamz Player
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Beamz Guides and Lesson Plans
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Show how reading can be fun
Help your students read for pleasure
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Booklists for parents and children to provide guidance in selection of good books to read.
check out the booklists in the left column compiled by librarians from the South Carolina State Library
K: Keep it Age Appropriate
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Use resources and literacy activities that are appropriate for your students' grade level.
These resources work well with older students.
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Route 66
An online, instructional literacy program for adolescent and adult beginning readers.
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Tar Heel Reader
Books made to meet the needs of older students who do not have access to easy-to-read, motivating, and age-appropriate text
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A library of accessible companion texts that go with the exemplar texts in the Appendix of the Common Core State Standards
can be found on the Tar Heel Reader website
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TumbleBookCloud (designed for middle/high school students)
Try Graphic Novels
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LearnOutLoud.com
Kids.LearnOutLoud.com is your audio and video learning resource for Kids & Teens.
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Radio Dramas
Consider radio dramas or old time radio plays to listen to.
L: Leveled Reading
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Use the Lexile website to help you find books that match reading ability with interests.
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Lexile Codes defined
Consider AD and HL level books for books with high interest, low readability for older students who are beginning readers
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Lexile - Find a book
Matching Readers with Text
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ReadWorks.org
Reading passages can be sorted by Lexile Level
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Leveling Chart including CCSS
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I Can Read!
Reading Tips for Parents and Educators
M: Making the Most of Your Motor Skills
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Use switches to allow any active motor skills to control devices.
Switches and switch interfaces can control computers, iPads, lights, fan, etc.
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Why Use Assistive Technology Devices with Students?
Select File and Download to see the document
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Capability Switches Comparison Chart
from Enabling Devices
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Switch Selection Guide
from AbleNet, Inc
Vendors
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The following companies sell switches, switch interfaces, access software programs, etc.
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AbleNet, Inc.
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Adaptivation
Pal Pads, etc.
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Augmentative Resources
Velcro books pages, etc.
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Enabling Devices
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Marblesoft
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RJ Cooper & Associates, Inc.
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School Health
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School Specialty
N: Use Novelty to Keep It Fresh
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Use websites not designed for switch users to provide variety
Reading using a familiar layout (advance button in a consistent location) will help to teach switch use
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ABCmouse.com
a full online curriculum for Preschool through Kindergarten; can set books to stop at end of each page - free for educators
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Oxford Owl
Free to use ebooks; Just look for the 'e' on the bookshelf
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Application Clicker
Use this program to add single switch control to a website not designed for switch acess
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Learn Outloud
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Special Bites
Make YouTube videos switch accessible
O: Opportunities to Read to Others
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Let students experience reading out loud to others
Communication devices can allow one, several or sequenced messages.
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Non-verbal students can choose the phrase they will use on their device.
Be creative in the options you give the student. Make some funny.
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BIGmack, Step-by-Step Communicators and more Speech Generating Devices
from AbleNet Inc.
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Communication devices: Cheap Talk, etc.
from Enabling Devices
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Tobii Communication Devices
High-tech AAC devices can hold several messages
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Prentke Romich
Use notebooks on these devices to contain lots of information to be read by the user.
Resources for books with repeated lines
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Repetitive Line Books
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Predictable Books
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Bibliography of Books with Rhyme and Repeated Lines
Check out more resources at the end of the list
Wordless picture books
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Favorite wordless picture books
from ReadingRockets.org
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List of wordless picture books for big and little kids
P: Public Libraries, Portals, and Participation Kits/Packages
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Get a Library Card
Help your students get a library card and they can access ebooks from home. -
Day by Day VA, Family Literacy Calendar
365 days of literacy-based activities provided by the Library of Virginia - Free
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Some Public Libraries provide free access to TumbleBooks
Use the link below to find your local library's website, then search for TumbleBooks for free access
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LibWeb
Links to websites for Virginia Public Libraries
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Libraries in the United States
Not from Virginia? Check here to find your state and local library
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State Libraries for Persons with Print Disabilities
A listing of libraries that provide special materials and services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Portals
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Portaportal
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Diigo
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Symbaloo
another of my portals for bookmarking great websites
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Sqworl
If you are a visual learner, you'll like this bookmarking website
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Live Binders
Literacy for All!
Participation Kits/Packages
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Building Personalized Participation Packages
Check out this free webinar by Terry Wendorf from AbleNet University on how to make your own.
Q: Quick, But Not Free (Commercial sources of adapted books)
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American Printing House for the Blind, Inc
Products in Emergent Literacy and more
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Don Johnston, Inc.
Readtopia
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Signed Stories
books signed in American Sign Language for the iPad
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ABCmouse.com
members can use all parts of the website
Subscription based websites for e-books - good for switch access
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Place the cursor on the advance button to allow single switch control
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Accessible Book Collection
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HelpKidzLearn
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TumbleBooks
Subscription but 30 day free trial here
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One More Story
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Flocabulary - Educational Hip Hop
Use the Pause and Play feature on the videos for switch control
Use Application Clicker for switch access to these websites
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Application Clicker
Use this program to add single switch control to a website with electronic books, etc
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BookBox
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Raz Kids
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Reading A-Z
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TumbleBookCloud (designed for middle/high school students)
Try Graphic Novels
R: Rationale for Reading
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Jim Trelease
Early primary grade students are able to hear and understand stories that are more complex than those they can read themselves.
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Literacy in Individuals With Severe Disabilities
Can children with severe disabilities learn to read or write? (ASHA)
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Teaching Reading
S: Sensory Stories
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Sensory stories use components from various sensory systems to help make the book more engaging.
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Tactual Book Kit Directions
adapt books with tactual features
T: Teaching and Testing
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Teach all students how to read
Remember to teach reading and switch use before testing the student.
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ALL Curriculum
Evidenced-based reading instruction program
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Literacy Instruction for Individuals with Autism, CP, Down Syndrome and Other Disabilities
This website provides guidelines for teaching literacy skills to learners with special needs.
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Starfall.com
Free books for reading instruction
Testing
U: Thematic Units & Use What You Got
Thematic Units
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Use books to reinforce whatever unit the class is working on; ex: animals, occupations, etc.
The student can read these stories during independent activity times.
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Hiyah.net
Use What You Got
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Author your own books or use free resources for the software you have.
Also check out Section on Volunteering
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SET-BC
Accessible Books Tutorials and Templates
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Spectronics Online Learning
Webinar: Boardmaker Plus Basics: Making talking books and other onscreen activities
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Spectronics Activity Exchange
Links to free activities ina variety of software programs
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PowerPoint Book Templates
from the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, UNC Chapel Hill
V: Opportunities to Volunteer
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If you are familiar with authoring software
join initiatives to share e-books and/or other literacy activities
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Boardmaker Online Community
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Story Shares
A digital literacy hub, with books for students who read below grade level beyond elementary school.
W: Write To Read & Writing with Communication Symbols
Write to Read
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Alternative Pencils
Help students with Intellectual Disabilities, including deaf-blindness, learn the alphabet
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PODD
updates from Linda Burkhart
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StoryJumper
Write your own stories, then have them prinnted or listen to an e-book version. E-book works with a switch.
Writing with Communication Symbols
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Adapt books, make AAC boards, label room and objects easily
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Boardmaker - Picture Communication Symbols
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Picture It
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Patrick Ecker
free to use symbols
X: Extra, Extra, Read All About Me
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Children of all ages love reading personal books
Remnants or Keepsake Books can be written by staff and/or students to include digital pictures scanned into the computer.
Y: Never Too Young
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No one is never too developmentally young to be read to
Even the youngest developmentally involved student can interact and experience the love of books.
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Emergent Literacy
What Young Children Can Learn about Reading and Writing Before They Go to School
Z: Zipping It All Up
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Use page fluffers to make it easier to turn pages. Try zipper pulls or ponytail holders for books with hidden objects
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Directions for making Grasping Aids, Page Fluffer, Page Turners and more
from the Nevada Dual Sensory Impairment Project
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Great Strategies to Try
Making Books Accessible
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FabricATe
DIY AT Solutions to support literacy activities
Review:
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"Books should be adapted with motor, language, vocal output, vision and hearing supports to allow equal opportunities for literacy development"
Molly Shannon, OTR/L, ATP