Want to ensure that more students in your school or district who require accessible educational materials (AEM) are reading with Bookshare?
Successful implementation starts with one or more Bookshare Champions who lead school or districtwide efforts. Champions promote Bookshare, foster collaboration among educators, and provide training and support, specifically through these activities:
Establish a District-Level Account
A single, centrally managed account streamlines implementation, improves monitoring and support, and ensures continuity as students and staff move between schools. The Bookshare team can help you consolidate school based accounts if they had previously been set up that way.
Account Setup and Support
District teams (e.g., AT, Special Education, Vision Services) identify eligible students and add them—and their educators—to member and sponsor rosters. Eligible students may include those with documented AEM or assistive technology needs on IEP/504 plans, those reading below grade level or at risk based on assessments or screening tools, or those with other qualifying impairments.
Assign Books Efficiently
Create grade-level Reading Lists of required texts that can be shared with Sponsors and students across the district. This allows teachers to assign all necessary materials to students quickly and consistently. When Reading Lists are shared with the Organization, all Sponsors on the account can subscribe to or copy the list.
Training and Professional Development
Offer one-on-one coaching, classroom demonstrations, virtual workshops, and staff presentations to build familiarity with Bookshare’s features among educators, librarians, paraprofessionals, and students. Conduct a Bookshare 101 session during district wide PD events. Demonstrate the Bookshare Reader including how to use it with Read&Write if you have access to that tool.
Build Awareness
Communicate regularly through district websites, newsletters, and email lists to ensure staff know about Bookshare and consider it for students who struggle with reading and comprehension. Think beyond special education. Connect with the UDL, MTSS, RTI, or literacy teams to identify students with reading deficits. Remember, IEPs and 504s are not required to use Bookshare.
Engage Families
Support parents by providing clear guidance on using Bookshare at home, including how to access books and upgrade school accounts to include a free Individual Memberships.