Welcome to the Webinar All • Sound can be heard through your computer speakers – Please be sure your speakers are not on mute About – Please turn up the volume on your computer speakers to your comfort level Digital • If using a phone for sound, call in to this number (you will be charged long distance fees by your phone service provider) : Books! 484-589-1010 and enter pass code: 118-724-242 Presented by: • Everyone will be on mute Annette Cerreta and Tara Bakken • For technical support call 952-838-9000 and let them know you need help with the Simon of the PACER Simon Technology Center Technology Center webinar July 16, 2009
Webinar Information Asking Questions & Chat
• Please ask questions at any time! • Ask questions by typing your question into the This webinar will be archived on “Question” box on the Webinar toolbar and PACER.org/pacerwebinars and will contain links to clicking “send.” resource materials relevant to each session. • For technical assistance, you can “chat” with technical support staff using the chat box on your
*Archived webinars will be made available on the PACER website toolbar or by calling technical support at 952-838- 1 - 2 weeks following the date of the original training. 9000 and letting them know you need help with the Simon Technology Center webinar
Today’s Session PACER Center
• Intro to PACER • Not-for-profit organization • Digital Books Overview • Serving parents of children • E-books and Audio Books: Where to with disabilities find, how to play • Primarily staffed by parents • Considerations for selecting digital of children with disabilities books and players • Over 30 different programs • The Law and Accessible Instructional • www.pacer.org Materials Simon Technology Center Services Digital Books
• Assistive Technology Information and Referral • Simon Technology Center Library & A.T. Finder – www.pacer.org/stc/atfinder • Free Assistive Technology Consultations • Free workshops • In-service trainings
What are Digital Books? Digital Book Media Formats
• E-Books (electronic books) • Audio Books – Visible e-text on screen – No text available • Digital books are – Played with audio players the digital media – Example: books in MP3 or equivalent of CD format conventional printed books.
Students with Visual Impairments
• Digital text can be converted to refreshable Braille or Braille print • Text and images can be enlarged; color and contrast can be modified • Text can be spoken aloud The Benefits of Digital Books with text-to-speech software • Digital audio books have no for Students with Disabilities electronic text to be read, feature human narration Students with Students with Motor Impairments Learning/Reading Disabilities – Text and graphics can be • Digital text or audio books edited and modified can be easier to manipulate – Text can be spoken out than standard print books. loud with text-to-speech • Digital books are compact software and easy to transport in – Can be paired with other comparison to traditional reading supports, such as print books. built-in dictionaries, • They can be accessed via homonym support, computers and assistive inserted notes, etc. technology. – Digital audio books don’t require text to be read – have the benefit of human narration
Research on Text-to-Speech combined with Digital Text E-Books Text-to-Speech technology combined with digital E-text may :
• Enhance reading performance: speed and endurance
• Improve reading comprehension
• Impede comprehension for learners with only mild reading impairments
• Provide higher degree of independence with reading
• Each technology must be considered relative to the needs and abilities of the specific individual, task, and setting.
Sources: Reading Machines for Students with LD - GreatSchools.net Summary of the Iowa Text Reader 2006-2007Longitdinal Study http://www.kurzweiledu.com/files/Iowa_Text_Reader_Study_Report.pdf
Where to Find E-Books
• On the Internet – Some books you pay for by book or subscription – Some are free – Some are available only for students with print-related disabilities. – Some are downloadable. – Some you read on the Internet. Where Do I Find E-Books? See the Resources for Digital Literature handout And what are all those different files? (http://www.pacer.org/publications/stc.asp : Presentation Handouts) Free E-Text Books Where to Find E-books On the Internet • Project Gutenberg Another Option: – www.gutenberg.net • Scan the print book into the computer using – Nearly 30,000 free e-books a scanner. – Viewable Online – Most books are not • It can be a slow process. copyrighted, some are • Open Library • Need a scanner and scanning – http://openlibrary.org OCR software. – Over 1,060,000 books with full text – Scanned full text available online or some as downloadable PDF
Free E-Text Books E-Books You Buy On the Internet • NetLibrary • Public Libraries • Amazon e-books • Digital Books Index – www.netlibrary.org – www.amazon.com – http://digitalbookindex.c – Hennepin County – Over 190,000 materials – Kindle format, must have om/about.htm – Viewable online or Library Kindle reader – Over 145,000 books downloadable • http://www.hclib.org available – Provides accessibility • School eBook Library – Some free, some at cost features – Free login to access – http://schoollibrary.com/ – Also have Audiobooks library available to loan (MP3 Main.htm player compatible, NOT – Over 500,000 PDF eBooks iPod compatible) and eDocuments – Some free, some at cost – Annual membership fee
E-Books for Students with Bookshare Student Eligibility Guidelines
Examples of Certifying Disability Qualified/Not Qualified Print Disabilities Professionals
A family doctor, ophthalmologist, optometrist, Teacher of the Visually Visual Impairment (VI), such as blind Qualified Impaired, Special Education teacher or low vision Bookshare.org Certification from the National Library Service • Must have a certified print disability A family doctor or other medical Physical Disability (PD) which affects professional, physical therapist, • Books are current and many under copyright one’s ability to read print, such as Qualified resource specialist, Special Education inability to hold a book or turn pages • Many textbooks and other instructional materials are available teacher • Available in format called “DAISY” that is designed for easier A neurologist, psychiatrist, learning Students with a severe enough disability specialist, Special Education access students with disabilities Learning or Reading Disability disability, and a professional certifying teacher, school psychologist, or that the disability has a physical basis clinical psychologist with a • Membership is free to U.S. Students with qualifying disability background in learning disabilities
• Organizational, school, and individual memberships available Autism Not qualified, unless accompanied by Emotional disabilities a visual or physical disability, or a Examples above • Membership includes free book playing software that reads ADHD qualified reading disability that has a the text out loud ESL and ELL physical basis E-Books for Students with Print Disabilities • Accessible Book Collection – www.accessiblebookcollection.org – Annual subscription fee – High interest; low reading level – Allows for various accessibility methods and program integration • Classroom Suite, Clicker 5, Boardmaker Plus! v6
• National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) – www.loc.gov/nls/ – Free membership for those with qualifying print disability – National network of libraries – Book/material formats: Braille, audio, large print
MathML MathML
• Mathematical Markup Language • Mathematical Markup Language – An application of XML – An application of XML – Allows mathematical notation and figures to be spoken and – Allows mathematical notation and figures to be spoken and navigated properly according to the designed structure and navigated properly according to the designed structure and content content • Software to author and play MathML • Software to author and play MathML – Authoring Tools: Microsoft Word, MathType, MathDaisy & Save As DAISY – Authoring Tools: Microsoft Word, MathType, MathDaisy & Save As DAISY – Players: gh PLAYER -OR- Dolphin EasyReader – Players: gh PLAYER -OR- Dolphin EasyReader • Resources: • Resources: – Design Science www.dessci.com – Design Science www.dessci.com – World Wide Web Consortium www.w3.org/Math/ – World Wide Web Consortium www.w3.org/Math/
DAISY File Structure DAISY Files
• DAISY: D igital Accessible Information • To play DAISY files (text or audio) you Sy stem must have a DAISY player • Allows navigation access of a digital book similar to a printed book • Where to find DAISY structured files: – Place bookmarks – Electronic text: www.Bookshare.org – Navigate by page number – Navigate by chapter – Audio files: www.rfbd.org – Navigate by section Software for Playing E-Books on Your Computer
• Text Reading Programs: – Speak e-text out loud using computer voice
• Scan & Read Programs:
– Convert printed text into digital text using scanner, scanning (OCR) software.
– These programs also speak Software text out loud and offer additional study aids, such as graphical organizers, built for Playing E-Books in dictionaries
Text Reading Programs Text Reading Programs
• Most are affordable ($100 Examples: or less) • TextAloud; ($30 and up) http://www.nextup.com • Read a variety of file • Natural Reader; ($50) formats http://www.naturalreaders.co m • Some read Internet pages • Victor Reader Soft and e-mail www.humanware.com • Some read DAISY books • gh Player • Some can convert text to http://www.gh- accessibility.com/ audio (MP3) Ghostreader • Don’t have the ability to www.assistiveware.com Natural Reader; ($50-300) scan print documents http://www.naturalreaders.com
Text Reading Programs Text Reading Programs
TextAloud; ($30-150+) Victor Reader Soft; http://www.nextup.com www.humanware.com Text Reading Program for Mac: gh PLAYER ConvenienceWare Ghost Reader
• Mac only text reader • Standard & Premium editions ($150 & $250) http://www.gh-accessibility.com/ • Listen to text in language • Digital book player supports: of choice – NIMAS • Export iTunes – Plain Text (.txt) – Convert electronic text to – DAISY 2.02 an audio file – ANSI-NISO (Z39.86-2002) • $39.95 (one language) – DAISY/NISO 2005 (Z36.86-2005) – MathML • High quality voices • Text highlighting The gh PLAYER™ fully supports MathML. • Point and read feature • www.assistiveware.com
Scan and Read Software Programs
In general:
• Scan print materials into the program
• Read most any e-text format, many read DAISY
• Usually include study tools - highlighting, voice notes, sticky notes, bookmarking, annotation extraction, talking dictionary and spell check, graphic organizers, homonym support, etc.
• Include talking word processor and word prediction gh PLAYER; ($150-$250) • General cost between $300-1500 http://www.gh-accessibility.com
Scan and Read Programs
• Scan and Read Pro; ($150 – Windows • WYNN Wizard; ($995 – only) Windows only) www.readingmadeez.co www.freedomscientific.com m/home.html
• ClaroRead; ($195- $395) www.enablemart.com • Kurzweil 3000; ($1,495) www.kurzweiledu.com • Read & Write Gold; ($645) Kurzweil 3000; ($1,495) www.texthelp.com www.kurzweiledu.com Page 42 Scan and Read Pro; ($150 – Windows only) www.readingmadeez.com/home.html ClaroRead; ($195-$395) www.enablemart.com
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Read & Write Gold; ($645) WYNN Wizard; ($995 – Windows only) www.texthelp.com www.freedomscientific.com
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DAISY Players for E-Books
Classmate Reader: Sold by: – Reads out loud e-books www.Humanware.com and plays audio books in www.Donjonnston.com various file formats, • Cost: $479 including DAISY files – Touch screen – DAISY navigational Hardware features – Has some study tools: – Highlighting and for Playing E-Books bookmarking – Talking dictionary – Text/Voice Notes Hardware for Playing E-books
Amazon Kindle 2: •www.amazon.com/Kindle •Reads Amazon’s book format, MP3, and other file formats, not DAISY -Amazon will convert some other formats for you via email •Text-to-speech if permitted by publisher •Can download e-text or audio book files from Amazon ClassMate Reader; •Holds over 1,500 e-books ($479) www.humanware.com •Cost: $299 •Wireless transfer of books
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E-Book Hardware Applications E-Book Hardware Applications
• Smart Phone/PDA’s Apple iPhone/iTouch – Portable devices with the ability to display electronic text – Mobile DAISY Player; ($125) • Reading Applications – Reads DAISY e-books aloud with – Bookshelf Reader Nokia built in text-to-speech (select models) or with Mobil Speak ($295) • www.iphonebookshelf.com – DAISY navigation functions – Stanza Book Reader – Compatible only with Symbian- • www.lexcycle.com based mobile phones – www.codefactory.es – Mobipocket Reader – Free reading application – (Blackberry, Windows, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Symbian) – www.mobipocket.com
E-Book Hardware Application Digital Audio Books
K-NFB Reader Mobile • User takes a photo of the text to be read • Reads aloud and displays most print documents • Transfer text files to/from computer or Braille Notetaker • Nokia N82 and 6220 model only • ATT or T-Mobile • Software price: $995 Where to Find Audio Books
• Internet • Local Library • Purchase • Text to Audio conversion
Where Do I Find Digital Audio Books? And what are all those different files?
FREE Audio Books Online Audio Books Online For Purchase
• www.librivox.org • www.audible.com – Audio files are available in downloadable mp3 or ogg files – Over 60,000 titles; narrated by human voice – Most audio books are in human narration; read by volunteers – Several membership plans available – Download methods: – Download then transferred to device (iPod or MP3) • Thrice weekly podcasts – Download complete book or subscribe to podcast • Download entire book in zipped folder • Download entire book by subscribing in iTunes • www.amazon.com – Over 700,000 Titles • www.podiobooks.com – Formats: cassette, CD, MP3, Audible download – Register to Podiobooks then subscribe to a book • Books are delivered to your podcatcher (e.g. iTunes) according to your • iTunes designated schedule – Search the online iTunes Store from within iTunes program – Click and listen for instant listening access and download of entire book – Audiobooks, Podcasts, iTunes U (free university lectures & – Most audio books are in human narration more)
RFBD Audio Books RFB&D Membership
• AudioPlus • AudioAccess • Person must have certified print disability – Books on CD and new – www.rfbd.org/audioaccess download option – Free one year membership for • Individual or institutional memberships available – DAISY format qualified students • Different membership levels/costs https://custhub.rfbd.org/Registration – Enhanced navigation – Not in DAISY format; each book page is an • For more information contact: – Listener adjustable tone individual audio file, packaged by chapter or unit Membership Services: 800-221-4792 and speed – Download WMA-DRM file (only Windows – Need Special play compatible) to Windows Media Player Website: www.rfbd.org device or software using RFB&D Download Manager software (High Speed Internet recommended) – Need compatible media player -not Ipod or Zune RFB&D Eligibility Guidelines • “Anyone with a documented disability—including a visual impairment, learning disability or other physical disability which makes reading standard print difficult or impossible...” www.rfbd.org • Professional certification requirements are very similar to Bookshare • The best way to find out if your child or student qualifies, is to directly contact these authorized providers (Bookshare and RFB&D, etc.)
Digital Media Software
• Windows Media Player • iTunes • QuickTime • RealPlayer Software & Hardware • Winamp for Playing Audio Books – www.winamp.com
Software to Play Portable Players DAISY Audio Books
DAISY software features: Amazon Kindle 2; ($359) • Navigate by book, page, phrase, chapter or section www.amazon.com/Kindle • Place and go-to bookmarks – Supports audio book files from • Change playback speed Amazon (Audible) and MP3 • Fast forward and reverse files – Does not support Daisy format (Programs listed below are also considered text readers) • Victor Reader Soft; ($79 from RFB&D ) Mp3 player ($25-$400) www.humanware.com – Does not support Daisy format • gh Player; ($250) www.gh-accessibility.com • EasyReader (RFB&D version) ; ($50) iPod ($50-$400) www.yourdolphin.com – Does not support Daisy format • eClipse Reader; ($85) www.eclipsereader.com/ Portable DAISY Players Portable DAISY Players
• Book Courier ; ($379) www.bookcourier.com Milestone 311 DAISY; ($369) www.bones.ch – Supports e-books and audio books – Variable playback speed • Plays only audio books (DAISY & MP3) – DAISY navigation features & bookmarks • SD memory card – SD memory card stores books -Windows only • DAISY navigation and bookmarks • Voice recorder • PLEXTALK Pocket ; ($395) www.plextalk.com – Supports e-books and audio books Telex Scholar Portable Player ; ($199) – SD memory card stores books -Windows only www.telex.com – DAISY navigation features & bookmarks • Plays DAISY CDs and MP3 CD’s – Variable playback speed • DAISY navigation and bookmarks – External speaker • LCD screen displays disc details
Victor Reader Stream; Portable DAISY Players ($329) www.humanware.com Provides audio supports for DAISY format
• Victor Reader Classic ; ($240) • Built in text-to-speech for www.humanware.com e-books – Plays DAISY Books on CD • DAISY navigation features • Victor Reader Stream ; ($329) • Go-to functions www.humanware.com – Supports audio and e-books • Bookmarking
• ClassMate Reader ; ($479) • Voice notes www.humanware.com • Compatible with many – Supports e-books with visual text display, and different file types audio books • SD card memory *See Comparison Chart for Talking Book Players Page 70
Considerations Considerations for Digital Books
• Will the student access reading materials best through audio, visual, or visual paired with auditory supports?
• Is there a preferred type of audio support: human narration or synthesized speech (computer/electronic speech output)?
• Are navigation abilities an important feature to include for the student’s reading and study needs? Considerations for Choosing Considerations for Choosing Software/Players Software/Players
• Does the user need the player to be portable? • What type of operating system (Mac or PC) does the student use and is it compatible with the software and/or hardware? • Does it need to be able to read text aloud?
• What book formats (i.e. DIASY, html, etc.) is the • Would the user benefit from the additional study tools student using and is the player compatible with provided in certain programs? these formats?
• Does the student need to scan print material into the device or program? • What type of voices does the program use? Are they appealing to the student?
The Law and Accessible The Reauthorization of Instructional Materials IDEA 2004
• When IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) was reauthorized in 2004, a provision was added requiring state and local education agencies to ensure that print textbooks and core related instructional materials were provided to students with print disabilities in specialized formats in a timely manner . – 34 Code of Federal Regulations Section 300.172
The Reauthorization of Definitions IDEA 2004
• Specialized Formats • Timely Manner – Braille – Each state is • This provision was added because many students with disabilities were not receiving instructional materials in – E-text required to define accessible formats in a timely manner: – Audio this. Generally means “at the same – No standard process for schools to obtain accessible formats from – Large Print publishers. time” as other – Publishers had no technical standards to follow for provision of students receive accessible formats to schools. their print materials. – Publishers had copyright protection concerns. – http://nimas.cast.org/about /regulations/excerpts- 07_2006 IDEA 2004 and NIMAS What is NIMAS?
• The law also • NIMAS is a technical standard used by established the publishers to produce source files that can National Instructional be used to create specialized formats Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) and (Braille , audio, e-text, or large print). the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center • NIMAS files are not “student ready” files. (NIMAC). They must be converted into specialized formats for student use.
Is my child/student eligible for specialized What is the NIMAC? formats produced from NIMAS files?
• The NIMAC is a repository for NIMAS files located at the American Printing House for the Blind. • The NIMAC receives the NIMAS files from the • To qualify for NIMAS-sourced instructional textbook publishers and then distributes them to materials, students must qualify as a student participating state and local education agencies with a disability under IDEA 2004 and other authorized providers. • Each state can decide whether to coordinate with • IDEA states that access to NIMAS files is to the NIMAC. If the state chooses not to, the state is benefit blind or other persons with print still responsible for providing accessible print disabilities in elementary schools and materials to students who require them. secondary schools.
Definitions Definitions
Essentially, this includes students who cannot use typical print • Print Disability based materials due to: IDEA 2004, PART D, SEC. 674. (e) •Blindness or vision impairment (3)(A) BLIND OR OTHER PERSONS WITH PRINT •Physical Impairment DISABILITIES—The term 'blind or other persons with •Reading disability resulting from organic dysfunction. print disabilities' means children served under this •Disability must be certified by a “competent authority.” Act and who may qualify in accordance with the •In the case of reading disability resulting from organic Act entitled 'An Act to provide books for the adult dysfunction, competent authority must be a doctor of blind ', approved March 3, 1931 (2 U.S.C. 135a; 46 medicine. Stat. 1487) to receive books and other publications produced in specialized formats. OSEP NIMAS Regulations Summary •http://nimas.cast.org/about/regulations/osep_summary See footnote 2 If your student doesn’t qualify Copyright Law Exception for books from the NIMAC... • The NIMAS-qualification process ensures that Other options: students meet copyright law exception • Bookshare, RFBD, and other providers of accessibly requirements. formatted learning materials. • 1996 Chafee Amendment, PL 104-197 – Qualification process may be somewhat different – The Chafee Amendment is an exemption to U.S. copyright than IDEA 2004 requirements for NIMAS-based law (section121) that allows the government or an materials. authorized entity to provide blind or other persons with disabilities accessible formats (Braille, audio, digital text, – Still need to have a certified print disability to large print) of print materials that are still under copyright. qualify for copyright exemption status. – http://www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/copyright.html • Accessible format created by the school • Free or fee-based (commercial) resources
Language for the IEP More questions about NIMAS?
• State and local education agencies are • If you have questions about how your encouraged to include language relating to state is working with NIMAS, you may a student's need for accessible, alternate- want to contact your NIMAS state format versions of print instructional materials contact. A list of these individuals can in the IEP be found at: • For suggested language, refer to: http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources/acc http://nimas.cast.org/about/resources essible_iep /nimas_nimac_contacts.html
Resources on NIMAS
• NIMAS at Cast – www.nimas.cast.org • NIMAC – www.nimac.us – Very useful information that is easy to Thank you for attending! understand. • LD Online article Please complete the evaluation – www.ldonline.org/article/16308 form you will receive shortly.