Bookshare: Providing Accessible Materials for Students with Print Disabilities
Wrap Up
Reading is a fundamental way for students to acquire knowledge across diverse subjects and contexts. However, when educators rely on text-based materials, many students—particularly students with print disabilities—might experience learning barriers. But educators can help eliminate these barriers by using accessible educational materials (AEM), which are designed to address the widest range of learner needs. And Bookshare simplifies this process by offering students with print disabilities more than one million resources that can be accessed in digital text, braille, and audio. By making materials available in these different formats, Bookshare empowers students to maximize their engagement by tailoring the reading experience to their needs, content area, type of reading task, and environment. Therefore, it is important for educators to work with students to identify formats that best meet their individual needs.
Bookshare offers eligible students two types of free access (and encourages using both):
- Organizational Membership – This type of membership is administered by a student’s school or district and grants students access to assigned materials.
- Individual Membership – This type of membership is managed by the student or a parent or guardian and enables students to read materials of their choosing.
With thoughtful planning, educators can seamlessly integrate Bookshare into classroom instruction so students with print disabilities have equitable access to knowledge and skills that will allow them to thrive alongside their peers.
Revisiting Initial Thoughts
Think back to your initial responses to the following questions. After working through the resources in this module, do you agree with your Initial Thoughts? If not, what aspects of your answers would you change?
What should educators understand about students who have trouble accessing standard print?
What is Bookshare and how can educators and students access its services?
How can educators implement Bookshare materials in the classroom?
When you are ready, proceed to the Assessment section.
