RESOURCES
If you have determined that a student needs AIM and qualifies as having a print disability (see previous sections regarding eligibility and proof of disability), Molly Brusstar will be able to assist you in acquiring membership and downloading books.
Bookshare® is an online library of digital books for people with print disabilities. It operates under an exception to U.S. copyright law which allows copyrighted digital books to be made available to people with qualifying disabilities. Membership is free to school age students.
Format: Bookshare provides encrypted DAISY 3 (Digital Accessible Information System) text files for use with screen reader technology (that reads the text using a computer synthesized voice). The text can also appear on the screen with modifications such as enlargement or highlighting the words as they are read. Bookshare can also provide text in refreshable or embossed Braille. Bookshare offers a choice of two free software applications (including ReadOutLoud) to access the DAISY 3 text files on either Mac or PC and apps are now available to read Bookshare files on iPad and Android devices. Bookshare library is significantly larger and includes access to newly published text books as well as some periodicals (newspapers, magazines). |
Learning Ally is a national nonprofit with a defined approach to help support students with learning disabilities and their families by providing low cost memberships to those with qualifying disabilities.
Format: Learning Ally provides audiobooks. Volunteers read the text and the (human voice) audio files can be played using a variety of devices such as ipad, iphone or mp3 players. Learning Ally uses an Audiobook Manager that downloads files that have been ordered by a member and organizes them on a “bookshelf” from which you can sync them to your player. Apps can be purchased from Learning Ally to enable access of audiobooks via a number of popular devices. There is also a free software program available for desktop computer access of audiobooks. A dedicated reader can also be purchased. |
If you have determined that a student needs AIM and but does not qualify as having a print disability (see previous sections regarding eligibility and proof of disability), we are still responsible for providing accessible materials.