Co-authored by Sarah Caswell and Ben Cooper
The start of a new school year is a time of renewed energy and exciting possibilities. Amidst the promise of a fresh start, it’s a great opportunity to ensure that all students, including those with print disabilities, have the tools they need to thrive. Print disabilities, such as dyslexia, blindness, and cerebral palsy, can make it challenging for students to access traditional print materials. By taking a few proactive steps now, you can create a supportive and inclusive learning environment from day one and ensure that for your students, learning never stops.
This checklist is designed to help you efficiently and effectively get your students with print disabilities set up for a successful school year.
1. Identify students who need accommodations
Before you can implement accommodations, you need to know who needs them. This is the first and most critical step.
- Review student records: Take time to look at the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans of your new students. These documents will clearly outline any specific reading accommodations required. Look for key phrases like “audiobooks,” “text-to-speech software,” “large print,” or “Braille.”
- Communicate with parents/guardians: As part of your initial back-to-school communication, consider sending a brief questionnaire or making a quick phone call to parents. Ask if they have any observations or concerns around their child’s learning they would like addressed. This also helps you build your own lesson plans and learning strategies for the school year. Parents are often your best resource for understanding a student’s unique challenges and successes.
2. Verify accommodations are in place
Once you’ve identified the students who need accommodations, your next step is to ensure those accommodations are ready to go.
- Check for technology: If a student requires text-to-speech software, a screen reader, or a device like a tablet for accessing digital text, verify that the technology is available and functioning.
- Coordinate with school staff: Work with your school’s special education department, librarian, or technology coordinator. They can be invaluable in helping you secure the necessary resources, such as access to a school-wide audiobook platform, large-print textbooks, or assistive technology tools.
3. Streamline the process for efficiency: small group planning
With your student list and their accommodations in hand, it’s time to get practical. A great way to manage this is to create a small, targeted group for initial setup.
- Form small groups: Pull together the students who require similar accommodations. For example, all students who need digital text and text-to-speech software can be a single group. This allows you to provide focused instruction and support.
- Create reading lists: With your school’s reading curriculum, you can create an easy-access reading list that can be used year after year. You can share this list with your students and other teachers in your school.
- Assign and read materials: In small groups, you can introduce students to their assigned reading materials for the year. This is the perfect time to show them how to access their digital textbooks, audiobooks, or other accessible formats. Students can read as a group or individually during this time. Creating a reading routine for your students will help them build successful skills with their assistive technology.
Empower your students with the right tools
By following this checklist, you can move into the school year with confidence, knowing that all your students are set up for success. Tools like Bookshare are incredibly helpful in this process, as they provide access to readings at school and at home, so learning is never interrupted. Bookshare is a leading resource that provides a vast collection of accessible ebooks in formats like audio, Braille, and large print, serving students with a wide range of print disabilities. A little bit of planning now will make a world of difference for their learning journey throughout the year.
Ensure learning never stops for your students. Enroll them in Bookshare for free today!