An accessible textbook can be in Braille form, large print, various digital forms, etext that can be instantly increased in size, preferential color schemes can be applied, and letters, words, phrases, sentence, paragraphs and sections can be sequentially highlighted as the text is read aloud and textbooks in audio form.
The use of accessible textbooks enables students with many different impairments and disabilities to actively participate in classroom activities and discussions with their peers. Students with visual impairments are able to access their textbooks through digital files provided by the textbook publishers. In some states, "Braille Laws" require the files to be formatted to ASCII, ICADD-22, SGML, .brf, WORD, and RTF. Most of the states offer this free of charge. Students with physical disabilities benefit from having textbooks in digital forms b/c the information can be altered and modified to work around their disability by using voice controls, eye gaze, switch access, etc. Students with SLD can have the text read to them b/c of the digital formatting and can use word processors to summarize the main ideas. Students with cognitive disabilities and those who have TBI have the ability to focus on curriculum b/c accessible textbooks are flexible and focus on meaning, main topics and offer graphics to appeal to students.
You make really good point when you say that it makes print a lot more accessible to a lot more people. Although I thought children with autism and TBI were not eligible to receive copies of books in other forms under the Chaffee Amendment
ReplyDeleteI agree- Accessible Texts seem like they would be so beneficial for such a wide variety of people, it seems that more disability categories should be eligible for receiving copies under the Chaffee Amendment.
ReplyDeleteI think these texts should be available for all students who need alternative access to the curriculum. I have many students who would benefit tremendously from this access.
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