Indiana Educational Resource Center (IERC)

• When should braille and large print instructional materials be ordered?
  All textbook orders for the upcoming school year should be ordered by April 15 of the current school year if possible.  Order all textbooks titles you know that the student will require.  It takes a minimum of 4 months for new braille transcriptions and 3 months for production of large print/accessible files, sometimes longer during the summer peak order season.
• Is there a cost to borrow materials from the IERC?
  LEA's do not have to pay for the materials received from the IERC. Materials are provided through Federal Quota dollars and Part B discretionary funds and are on loan to the LEA's.  All items are tracked and LEA's are accountable for the return of materials to the IERC when the student has finished using them.
• Why do you need the ISBN number on textbook orders?
  The ISBN or International Standard Book Number is a unique 13-digit number that identifies one title or edition of a title from one specific publisher and is unique to that edition.  Prior to 2007, it was a ten-digit number. Each format or binding must have a separate ISBN. Once assigned, an ISBN can never be reused. This number helps the IERC pin-point the exact textbook information. Read more about ISBN numbers here.
• Sometimes classroom teachers provide the wrong textbook information to me and I order the wrong large print or braille book. If the IERC provides the book I have ordered, but it is the wrong title or edition, will they provide a second, corrected copy?
  Only if we have it in our collection, ready to loan. We will not purchase a second copy as these items are very costly. It is the responsibility of the LEA to insure the accuracy of the order information prior to placing the order the first time. The IERC will provide the LEA with commercial sources where they can purchase the materials directly if needed.
• Does the IERC supply magnifiers, CCTV's or other non-APH materials?
  No. The LEA's will need to purchase these materials directly from the commercial vendors. The LEA's may want to contact the PATINS Project Lending Library for product information or possible equipment loan. https://www.patinsproject.org/
• May DRM's order more that one copy of a braille or large print textbook for a student?
  The IERC will provide one set of textbooks in braille or large print. It is the LEA's responsibility to provide a second copy if it has been documented as a need on the student's individualized education plan. The IERC's role is to assist the LEA's in the provision of accessible instructional materials.
• Are the materials ordered with federal quota dollars generated by my students the property of the school or do the materials need to be returned to the IERC?
  Materials ordered with Federal Quota dollars are the property of the State of Indiana and must be returned to the IERC after the student is finished using them. It is the responsibility of the state's Ex Officio (IERC Director) to oversee the federal account, which includes the distribution, tracking, and re-loan of educational materials purchased with quota dollars. All federal quota dollars as well as materials purchased with those dollars must be accounted for.
• May the student consume braille and large print workbooks?
  Workbooks or consumable textbooks ONLY may be consumed if needed. If materials are consumed, they must be accounted for during the annual inventory recall process as consumed so we can update our inventory accordingly.
• If my student moves in-state, but to another LEA, can I send his/her materials with them or do they need to be returned to the IERC?
  All materials loaned to an LEA for use by a specific student must be returned to the IERC if the student moves to a different school corporation. It will be the responsibility of the DRM from the new school corporation to update the student information on the ICAM and to order materials required for use by the student enrolled in the new LEA.
• If borrowed braille and large print textbooks and specialized aids and equipment are not accounted for or returned to the IERC at the end of each school year, will the ordering district be charged for their replacement?
  The local education agency is ultimately responsible for tracking and accounting for all ordered instructional materials purchased with state and federal dollars and loaned to them by the IERC at the end of each school year. The IERC reserves the right to charge the ordering local education agency for lost or unaccounted braille and large print books as well as specialized aids and equipment. For books with multiple volumes, the school district would be charged for the cost to replace the entire book, if the IERC cannot replace individual volumes.
• Why do I need to send two print copies of a textbook for production of transcription?
  If textbooks ordered are not available in large print or braille, two original copies will be requested by the IERC for production or transcription from the LEA. One copy is torn apart during the production process and kept on site with the master and the second copy, used for proofreading, is returned to the school after production or transcription is complete. It is the responsibility of the local education agency to provide the requested print copies of the textbooks, not the IERC or the MAMP. The local education agency can choose not to send print copies to the IERC for production or transcription and can purchase directly from commercial sources if available.
• Why did the IERC send out a braille copy of the national edition of a book when the state edition was ordered?
  In order to keep costs down and to prevent the transcription of a braille book already available, the IERC reserves the right to substitute the national edition of an ordered state edition if the publisher verifies that the national edition is classroom compatible with the state edition.
• Will the Miami Accessible Media Project (MAMP) produce accessible versions of any textbook?
  No. Only accessible derivative versions, as a result of the production of the hard copy large print or transcription of a braille textbook, will be made available in accessible formats as determined appropriate by the MAMP.  Any accessible formats produced by the MAMP will appear in the ICAM during a search if the student has qualified for these specialized formats per their IEP.
• May large print and braille instructional materials be ordered directly from the Miami Accessible Media Project (MAMP)?
  No. All orders for large print and braille instructional materials must go through the ICAM via the appointed DRM and then to the IERC for review and processing. All orders sent to MAMP originate from the IERC.
• Will the IERC provide textbooks of a religious nature for a students being served in parentally placed, non-public schools?
  No. Per the Indiana State Code, we cannot expend federal dollars on the purchase or production of religious curriculum materials for use by students in parentally-placed, non-public schools, including those books from religious publishers. However, if the book is used as part of the local education agency curriculum and has been endorsed by the local education agency, we can provide those titles.
• Does the IERC provide older copyrights or editions of braille and large print textbooks?
  The IERC reserves the right, dependent on funding, to not purchase older copyrights or editions of specialized braille and large print instructional materials. If the LEA requests an older copyright of a textbook in braille or large print, and the IERC is unable to purchase, the IERC will assist the LEA by researching available commercial vendors for procurement at the local level. Furthermore, if an LEA writes into a student's individualized education program (IEP) that braille and/or large print textbooks will be provided for a student, it shall not be the ultimate responsibility of the IERC to provide the braille and/or large print textbooks and materials.
• Will the IERC replace braille and large print instructional materials lost by districts?
  Due to limited funds, the IERC cannot replace specialized instructional materials that have been purchased/shipped by the IERC and received at the LEA, then lost or misplaced at the local level.

Unified English Braille
Timeline for Implementation in Indiana
Compiled by Indiana UEB Implementation Committee
August 21, 2014; Revised April 13, 2015; November 16, 2015
Unified English Braille Code

In November 2012, the Braille Authority of North Ameria (BANA) voted to adopt Unified English Braille (UEB) to replace the current English Braille American Edition (EBAE) in the United States while continuing the use of the Nemeth Code for Mathematics and Science Notation, 1972 Revision, the Music Braille Code 1997, and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Braille Code, 2008. The full motion is posted on the BANA website.

BANA, at its November 2013 meeting, affirmed January 4, 2016, (Louis Braille’s birthday) as the date by which the United States will implement the general use of Unified English Braille (UEB). This action was based on a year of dialogue and planning that included the UEB Transition Forum, held on October 16, 2013. For more information, view the official press release.

Indiana Statewide UEB Transition

Indiana has been actively working on the transition to UEB. A statewide stakeholders committee met in 2014 and 2015, and will continue to meet ongoing to further develop/refine Indiana’s state plan for UEB implementation and to guide the transition. The UEB Implementation Committee consists of representatives from the Statewide Resource Center, State AT Project, University Training Programs, Adult Services, Residential School and Outreach Staff, TBLV’s from around the state, Prison Braille Program, Braille Transcribers, and the Indiana Department of Education.

The Indiana UEB state plan was submitted to and approved by the Indiana Department of Education in September 2014. To date: transcribers have trained in the UEB and received their Canadian UEB certification. They are currently seeking U.S. national UEB certification; university programs have implemented UEB coursework for their teacher training programs; and workshops, conferences and webinars have and will be conducted for BLV teaching and paraprofessional staff.

Considerations for Math Code

UEB is one code for literary, mathematics, and computer science text elements. The UEB technical code for math and science is part of the UEB and is used in all grade levels; therefore the use of the term UEB implies a complete code that includes math.

As a default, requests for instructional materials for subjects that require math code (i.e., science and mathematics), for all grades, will be produced in UEB with Nemeth Code for mathematics. UEB will be provided in lieu of Nemeth Code only if the student’s IEP dictates UEB for math instruction. The Case Conference Committee (CCC) must determine if UEB or UEB with Nemeth better meets the instructional needs of the student.

When it is determined that braille is a consideration for the student who is blind, then the code for the instruction of math/technical subjects (Nemeth or UEB) will need to be specified and a written justification provided.

View “Nemeth UEB Factors and Considerations for Math Code Indiana” developed by the UEB Implementation Sub-Committee. 

Timeline

The transition to UEB from EBAE in Indiana will be a six year plan, based on a school year calendar.  It began with the 2013-2014 SY and will run through the 2018-2019 SY.  Full implementation of the UEB (i.e. instruction, materials, assessment) is targeted for the 2018-2019 SY.

Each local education agency (LEA), based on the approved state timeline, will be responsible for developing a plan for implementation of the UEB at the local level to meet the full implementation UEB date. The Indiana Educational Resource Center (IERC) will work closely with LEA’s to best meet the educational braille needs of individual students.

Implementation of this timeline involves the collaboration of state and national partners and may change as state and national information changes or becomes available.

Timeline Breakdown

2013-2014 SY

• Transcriber training.
• Research and begin drafting state plan.

2014-2015 SY

• Transcriber training and certification.
• Approval of a state plan for UEB implementation.
• Statewide UEB professional development for BLV teacher and paraprofessional staff (workshops, conferences, braille training, webinars and UEB resources).

January 2015

• IERC begins transcription of braille requests, not previously transcribed in EBAE, in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth Code, for the 2015-2016 school year, for Grades K-5.
• Existing materials transcribed in EBAE will continue to be provided in EBAE. Exceptions will be made for students just learning the UEB, who have had no previous training in the EBAE.
• Transcription and conversion of instructional materials will be evaluated on the educational needs of each individual student and based on established criteria set by the IERC.

Spring 2015

• IDOE provides state assessments in EBAE/Nemeth.

2015-2016 SY

September 2015

• Teachers begin UEB instruction for students in Grades K-5.  Begin using available UEB materials.

January 2016

• IERC begins transcription of braille requests, not previously transcribed in EBAE, in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth Code, for the 2016-2017 school year, for all grades.
• Existing materials transcribed in EBAE will continue to be provided in EBAE.
• Transcription and conversion of instructional materials will be evaluated on the educational needs of each individual student and based on established criteria set by the IERC.

Spring 2016

• IDOE provides state assessments in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth as well as EBAE/Nemeth for Grades 3-5 and EBAE/Nemeth for Grades 6 and up.

2016-2017 SY

September 2016

• Teachers begin UEB instruction for students in grades 6 and up. Begin using available UEB materials.

JanuarY 2017

• IERC continues transcription of braille requests, not previously transcribed in EBAE, in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth for all grades.
• Existing materials transcribed in EBAE will continue to be provided in EBAE.
• Transcription and conversion of instructional materials will be evaluated on the educational needs of each individual student and based on established criteria set by the IERC.

Spring 2017

• IDOE provides state assessments in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth and EBAE/Nemeth for all grades.

2017-2018 SY

September 2017

• Continue UEB instruction as needed for remaining students, move in and transfer students.

January 2018

• IERC continues transcription of braille requests, not previously transcribed in EBAE, in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth for all grades.
• Existing materials transcribed in EBAE will continue to be provided in EBAE.
• Transcription and conversion of instructional materials will be evaluated on the educational needs of each individual student and based on established criteria set by the IERC.
• IDOE provides state assessments in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth and EBAE/Nemeth for all grades.

2018-2019 SY

• Complete UEB transition. All school-age materials will be produced in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth.  All students who read braille will be expected to access material produced in UEB.
• Based on availability of UEB, existing materials transcribed in EBAE may continue to be provided.

Spring 2019

• IDOE provides state assessments in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth for all grades.

UEB Trainings and Learning Opportunities

Training will be provided by the PASS (Promoting Achievement for Students with Sensory Loss) Project, Blumberg Center, Indiana State University in collaboration with the Indiana Educational Resource Center (IERC) and the PATINS (Promoting Achievement Through Technology and Instruction for all Student) Project, through 2015. Additional trainings after 2015 will be provided as needed.

• UEB Ready? Introduction to Unified English Braille (Fall 2014)

UEB Ready? Introduction to Unified English Braille was intended to educate and prepare teachers and staff in order to facilitate a smooth transition from EBAE to UEB.  Six regional trainings provided a comparison of English Braille American Edition (EBAE) and UEB.  Teachers and staff participated in hands-on exercises specific to UEB.

• UEB Ready? Introduction to Unified English Braille Webinar (Fall 2014)

A webinar was developed as a resource and for those unable to attend the regional trainings. 

• UEB Ready? ListServ (Fall 2014)

An e-mail discussion listserv has been created to provide a communication tool for teachers and staff to ask questions, share resources and strategies, and discuss important issues specific to the implementation of Unified English Braille (UEB).  Transcribers, teachers, paraprofessionals, and other professionals working with students who utilize braille as their literacy mode are participating in this forum.

• UEB Ready? The Implementation of Unified English Braille in Indiana: A Webinar for Directors of Special Education (Fall 2014)

A webinar was developed to address questions and concerns specific to Directors of Special Education in Indiana regarding the transition to UEB. 

• UEB Ready? A Supported Independent Study (Spring 2015 & Summer 2015)

The PASS Project in conjunction with Indiana State University offered a 13-week training program via distance education utilizing Blackboard.  Participants in the program are using Ashcroft’s Programmed Instruction: Unified English Braille (API-UEB) as a guide to learning UEB.  Throughout the program, instructors answered questions and provided feedback on quizzes prior to the final exam.

• UEB Ready? Teaching the Technology (Spring 2015)

This training provided an opportunity for vendors to share information about technology that supports Unified English Braille (UEB).  Participants were presented with the capabilities of various devices and how to utilize these devices with students thereby allowing teachers to make informed recommendations on the device(s) that will best meet the needs of students. This training was intended for Indiana teachers and paraprofessionals working with students who are blind or have low vision.  Students and their parents are encouraged to attend.

• UEB Ready? Teaching the Software (Spring 2015)

In this training, participants learned how to utilize the Duxbury Braille Translation software to become more efficient in their ability to transcribe and produce needed braille instructional materials in UEB.  It was intended for Indiana teachers and paraprofessionals working with students who are blind or have low vision.

• UEB Ready? The Implementation of Unified English Braille in Indiana: A Webinar for Parents (Fall 2015)

A webinar was developed with parents in mind directly addressing their questions or concerns regarding the transition to UEB.

• UEB Ready? Teaching the Transition (Fall 2015)

This training provided strategies and resources to assist Indiana teachers and paraprofessionals working with students who are blind or have low vision when teaching the transition from EBAE to UEB.

Resources

The IERC website will post UEB information, resources, and updates. UEB information can be found at the IERC website or by visiting the BANA website:

• Indiana Educational Resource Center
• Braille Authority of North America (BANA)

UEB Transition and Implementation in Indiana
Indiana Educational Resource Center/ICAM
Position Statement for the Provision of Materials

• Requests for instructional materials in subjects using literary braille (i.e., social studies and language arts), not previously transcribed in EBAE, will be produced in UEB for the 2015-16 school year for Grades K-5. Requests for all grades, in subjects using literary braille, not previously transcribed in EBAE, will be produced in UEB for the 2016-2017 school year.


• Requests for instructional materials in subjects that require math (i.e., science and mathematics), not previously transcribed in EBAE, will be produced in UEB with Nemeth for the 2015-2016 school year for Grades K-5. Requests for all grades in technical subjects, not previously transcribed in EBAE, will be produced in UEB with Nemeth Code for the 2016-2017 school year. UEB Technical Code will be provided in lieu of UEB with Nemeth Code if the student’s IEP dictates UEB math. BANA’s “Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts” will be followed for UEB with Nemeth Code transcription.


• Instructional materials previously transcribed in EBAE will continue to be made available. The IERC will not convert and produce existing braille files from EBAE into UEB as a policy. The transcription and conversion of instructional materials will be evaluated on the educational needs of each individual student and based on established criteria set by the IERC. Students who have been taught EBAE may continue to receive materials originally produced in the EBAE. Exceptions will be made for students, just learning the UEB, who have had no previous training in the EBAE.


• The provision of textbooks and instructional materials in UEB and/or UEB with Nemeth Code will be dependent on the availability and capacity of certified transcribers. 

• Annual Census/Federal Quota Registration of Students who are Legally Blind begins on the first Monday in January. 

• Annual Census/Federal Quota Registration of Students who are Legally Blind is completed on the ICAM by IERC appointed Designees.
• Process for submitting braille orders on the ICAM to the IERC for the next school year begins.

• Annual Census/Federal Quota Registration Report is submitted to the American Printing House for the Blind by the IERC.
• Annual IERC Inventory Recall/Reallocation process begins on the ICAM.

• Material requests for the next school year are due to be submitted on the ICAM.

• Annual Inventory Recall/Reallocation process ends.

• Materials currently on loan, that have not been renewed or retained during the Annual Inventory Recall/Reallocation, are due back at the IERC.

• IERC begins shipping materials ordered on the ICAM to the schools. 

• Federal Quota allocation is appropriated to the American Printing House for the Blind. The allocation is made available to the IERC/Indiana Department of Education.

• School Corporations begin to prepare for the Annual Census/Federal Quota Registration of Students who are Legally Blind.

APH Monthly News

APH Access Academy Webinars

APH Hive eLearning

APH Refreshable Braille Comparison

APH Magnifier Comparison Chart

APH PageBlaster and PixBlaster Comparison

• Apps for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  Various apps we found that are useful for Blind and Low Vision persons using Apple and Andriod products. 
  
  4to24 App: Preparing Your Child for Success
  
  Accessible Reading Comparison Chart, developed by Julie Ann Lieberman, MS and Laura Cantagallo, help the user decipher the differences between a number of accessible PDF reading apps available in Google Play.
  
  APH Free Apps 
  
  AroundMe - App that quickly allows user to find out information about their surroundings. Free from AroundMe on iTunes. Works with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
  
  Ballyland Apps by Sonokids is an educational iPad game that helps young children with vision impairment to learn and practice a number of VoiceOver gestures.
  
  BARD (Braille and Audio Recording Download) which is offered as a way to download audio books and WebBraille files from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) now is available as a mobile app for iOS from the iTunes and App Store.  To access this free app download visit BARD on iTunes. View the user guide for the newly released NLS BARD Mobile App.
  
  Be My Eyes Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call.
  
  Braille Tutor, from iEnable, is an app to teach and practice UEB braille skills. Visit Perkins eLearning to read the app review by Diane Brauner. You can learn more about Braille Tutor by visiting the iEnable website. Braille Tutor is free through the Apple store for lessons 1-19, uncontracted braille. There is a fee for lessons 20-91 in contracted UEB. Free at Braille Tutor on iTunes.
  
  Digit-Eyes - An audio scanner and labeler, enables people without vision to read barcode labels. $9.99 from Digit-Eyes on iTunes. Requires iOS 6.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. 
  
  Digit-Eyes Lite QR Bar Code Reader and Labeler – Audio scanner and labeler for the iPhone or iPod Touch. Free from Digit-Eyes Lite on iTunes.
  
  Draw2Measure Protractor is a free app for iOS® devices designed for students who are blind and visually impaired, and can be used by sighted students too.  It gives all students an alternative way to measure angles.  Students can place an angle over the screen of a device, such as a phone or tablet, and trace along the sides of the angle with a fingertip or stylus. The app records the locations of the sides and then calculates the angle. For objects that may not fit on a screen, students can find measurements by rotating the device itself, which utilizes the built-in gyroscope sensor to measure the angle. It reports angle measurements in both degrees and radians. Watch a short YouTube video to see the Draw2Measure app in action. Draw2Measure is a free download from the Apple App Store and works with devices running iOS 8 or later. It cannot be downloaded directly from APH. Free on Draw2Measure Protractor on iTunes.
  
  eMagnifier- Variable zoom from 1x to 8x with option to freeze and save image to camera roll. Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Free from eMagnifier on iTunes.  
  
  Eye Note - A mobile device application to denominate paper currency. For use on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Free from Eye Note on iTunes.
  
  Fleksy  - This auto-correct iOS app allows blind and visually impaired users to type faster without worrying about typing mistakes. It is compatible with the iPhone and iPad. Free from Fleksy on iTunes and offers in-app purchases.
  
  KNFB Reader - App for iOS recently released version 2.7.3 which now allows the user to take a picture by pressing the Volume Up button on their device and the Volume Down button to execute field of view. Cost $99.99 from KNFB Reader on iTunes.
  
  Learning Ally Link for mobile is an educational reading app designed for learning through listening. Learning Ally provides more than 80,000 human-narrated audiobooks and audio textbooks for dyslexic, blind and visually impaired readers. Free on Learning Ally on iTunes.
  
  Light Detector - Detects sources of light that have been left on or to detect location of windows. $1.99 from Light Detector on iTunes. Compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
  
  MBraille is an intriguing new iOS app. The $39 version allows you to write in contracted English Braille, send a variety of communications, and edit. The free version lets you learn the app and send tweets. To download visit MBraille on iTunes.
  
  overTHERE is a free, accessibility app that helps individuals who are blind explore and interact with the surrounding environment by using virtual audible signs. Free from overTHERE on iTunes.
  
  Prizmo Go- Instant Text Capture is a free, iOS app that allows the user to quickly capture printed text with the camera. Recognized and selected text can be read aloud. The app works with VoiceOver, provides spoken guidance prior to shooting and has text-to-speech capabilities for reading printed documents. Free from Prizmo Go on iTunes.
  
  Seeing AI, developed by Microsoft, has been released to the Apple App Store. The app harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to open up the visual world and describe nearby people, text and objects. The app uses artificial intelligence and the camera on your iPhone to perform a number of useful functions: reading documents, identifying a product based on its barcode, recognizing people based on their face, providing a description, and recognizing images within other apps. Free from Seeing AI on iTunes.
  
  Talking Calculator - Scientific calculator for blind and low vision users. Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. $1.99 from Talking Calculator on iTunes.  
  
  Talkler – a VoiceOver compatible iOS app that enables blind and visually impaired persons to use voice commands to listen to and manage emails. Free from Talkler on iTunes. Popular in-app purchases offered from $1.99-$19.99. 
  
  TapTapSee - An iOS app to help blind persons identify objects they encounter in their daily lives. The user takes a picture of what is in front of them and the app identifies and speaks the identification back to the user. The application also features instant recognition on all US paper currency. Free from TapTapSee on iTunes. In-app purchases available.
  
  ThumbJam- With over 40 sampled instruments and hundreds of scales this app allows user to effortlessly play any musical genre.  Compatible with iPod Touch, iPad and iPhone. $8.99 on ThumbJam on iTunes.  
  
  VisualBraille - Translate common words, sentences, and numbers from text to Braille. For use with iPhone and iPad.
  
  VisualBraille Lite - Free app for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad from VisualBraille Lite on iTunes.
  
  vBookz- Accessibility-friendly audio book application with text to speech built-in. Works with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. $4.99 from vBookz on iTunes.
  
  VisionSim by Braille Institute - A Free app developed by Braille Institute of America for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android devices to simulate nine degenerative eye diseases. Free from VisionSim on iTunes.
  
  VO Lab is a new app by Sonokids for adolescents and adults who are blind or have low vision. This educational iPad game is designed for students aged 14+ to learn touch gestures and concepts of VoiceOver and VoiceOver gestures, Apple’s built-in screen reader on iOS Devices. The app is both entertaining and educational, and provides beginning learners of VoiceOver with opportunities to gain the required foundation skills to use the iPad or iPhone independently. App is $4.99 on VO Lab on iTunes.
  
  Voice Dream Reader is a mobile reading tool, text-to-speech (TTS) app for iOS. It comes with 78 voices, will extract text from PDF, ePub, text-based DAISY, Word, and Text files in Dropbox, Google Drive or on your device. Users can listen to web pages with built-in Browser, or on their Pocket or Instapaper reading List. It reads books from Gutenberg and Bookshare. It has a personal pronunciation dictionary, sleep timer, work and line highlighting, VoiceOver support, large font size and customizable colors, and navigates through text by sentence, paragraph, page, and chapter and 15, 30, 60 seconds. Users can add bookmarks, highlights, and notes. For more information, visit the Voice Dream website. Available from the Voice Dream Reader on iTunes for $9.99.
  
  
  
  

• Braille Literacy and Book Resources

  American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults 

  Bookshare.org 

  Braille Tales  

  Children’s Braille Book Club  

  Dots for Tots  

  Learning Ally  

  National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled  

  ReadBooks! Program  

  Seedlings Braille Books for Children  

  Seedlings Book Angel Program  
  
  Sources of Braille Children’s Books and Magazines  

• Braille Software Programs
  Braille 2000
  
  Braille Blaster
  

  Download Braille Blaster
  Braille Blaster FAQs

  Braille Blaster Documentation

  
  Duxbury Systems, Inc
  
  PerkyDuck

• Career Information
  APH ConnectCenter

• CVI

  
  CVI Connect  

  APH CVI Webpage  

  CVI: Little Bear Sees  

• Eye Disorders
  American Academy of Ophthalmology
  
  American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  
  Blindness Resource Center
  
  National Eye Institute  
  
  Prevent Blindness

• Guide Dog Agencies

  Guide Dog Users

  California

  Guide Dogs for the Blind

  Guide Dogs of America

  Guide Dogs of the Desert

  Eye Dog Foundation for the Blind

  Connecticut

  Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation

  Florida

  Southeastern Guide Dogs

  Kansas

  Kansas Specialty Dog Service

  Michigan

  Leader Dogs for the Blind

  New Jersey

  Seeing Eye

  New York

  Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind

  Guiding Eyes for the Blind

  Ohio

  Pilot Dogs

  Oregon

  Guide Dogs for the Blind

• Indiana O&M Specialists
  Indiana O&M Specialists

• Indiana Websites
  BOSMA Industries for the Blind
  
  Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education
  
  Indiana Department of Education
  
  Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education
  
  Indiana Family to Family  
  
  In.gov: Official Web Portal for the State of Indiana
  
  Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
  
  Indiana Reading and Information Service
  
  INSOURCE Special Education Parent Support
  
  Indiana Governor’s Planning Council for People with Disabilities
  
  Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  
  INSPIRE (Indiana Virtual Library)
  
  Low Vision Centers of Indiana  
  
  PASS: Promoting Achievement for Student with Sensory Loss, Indiana State University  
  
  PATINS (Promoting Achievement through Technology and INstruction for all Students)

• National Organizations

  American Academy of Ophthalmology
  
  American Academy of Optometry
  
  American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  
  APH ConnectCenter
  
  Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps (TASH)
  
  American Council of the Blind
  
  American Diabetes Association
  
  American Foundation for the Blind
  
  American Optometric Association
  
  American Printing House for the Blind
  
  Assistive Technology Industry Association
  
  Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI)
  
  Blind Babies Foundation
  
  Blind Children’s Center
  
  Bookshare.org
  
  Braille Authority of North America (BANA)
  
  Braille Institute of America  
  
  Canadian National Institute for the Blind
  
  CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology)
  
  Center on Technology and Disability  
  
  Center for Parent Information and Resources
  
  Closing the Gap
  
  Council for Exceptional Children
  
  Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
  
  Foundation Fighting Blindness (retinal diseases)
  
  Hadley
  
  Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC)
  
  International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI)
  
  Learning Ally
  
  Lighthouse Guild
  
  National Association for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH)
  
  National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) 
  
  National Braille Press  
  
  National Center on Deaf-Blindness
  
  National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE)
  
  National Eye Institute
  
  National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB)
  
  National Federation of the Blind
  
  National Industries for the Blind
  
  National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
  
  National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
  
  National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
  
  National Resource Center for Blind Musicians, Music and Arts Center for Humanity
  
  Prevent Blindness America
  
  Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University
  
  Schools for the Blind  
  
  United States Association for Blind Athletes
  
  United States Blind Golf Association
  
  United States Braille Chess Association
  
  Vision Council of America: Better Vision Institute

• Parents and Families

  4to24 App: Preparing Your Child for Success  
  
  Ballyland Apps for iPAD  
  
  Blind Babies Foundation  
  
  Blind Children’s Center  
  
  APH FamilyConnect
  
  Braille Bug  
  
  Braille Institute, Dots for Tots  
  
  Braille Tales Free Print-Braille Children's Book Program 
  
  Center for Parent Information and Resources
  
  Center on Technology and Disability
  
  Enabling Devices
  
  Guide to Braille Resources
  
  INSOURCE Special Education Parent Support
  
  National Association of Parents of Visually Impaired
  
  Paths to Literacy
  
  Perkins School for the Blind Scout
  
  Physical Education, Recreation, and Health
  
  Prevent Blindness 
  
  Recreation and Leisure Resources
  
  Seedlings Book Angel Program
  
  Storybud
  
  Wonder Baby  
  
  You’ve Got Braille  
  
  Youth Transition Toolkit

• Product Catalogs
  APH Catalogs  
  
  Exceptional Teaching, Inc.
  
  Independent Living Aids, Inc.
  
  LS&S Procducts
  
  Maxi Aids
  
  National Braille Press
  
  Vision Associates

• Resources for Learning Braille
  Braille FUNdamentals  
  
  Braille Too:  The Next Generation 
  
  BRL: Braille Through Remote Learning 
  
  Building on Patterns: Braille Literacy Program
  
  Burns Braille Guide
  
  Mangold Braille Program
  
  Ashcroft's Programmed instruction: Unified English Braille 
  
  UEB (Unified English Braille)
  
  UEB Curriculum for Braille Students 
  
  UEB Online
  
  Hadley
  
  UEBOT (Unified English Braille Online Training)  
  
  UEB Math Tutorial  
  
  NEMETH Math Tutorial  

• Video Description Resources

  Narrative TV Network

  Audio Description Project

  Audio Description Associates

   

  Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP)

  Survey Reports

  DCMP Survey of Educators Reveals Great Potential for Described Educational Video
  
  Educational Media Producer and Accessibility Survey Results

  Description Guidelines

  The Description Key
  
  Description Tip Sheet
  
  DCMP Decription Webinars  

  Sources for Identifying Described DVD Movie Releases

  Audio Description Project (ADP) DVD Described Movie List
  
  Perkins School for the Blind: Described Movies and Television Listings 
  
  WGBH

  Sources for Online Described Media

  Teachers' Domain 

  Video Training Material

  Equal Access in the Classroom

  Description Advocacy

  
  Listening is Learning

  
  CaptionMax

  
  Video Description Research and Development Center (VDRDC)

   

• Vision Resources
  AEM (Accessible Educational Materials)
  
  American Journal of Ophthalmology 
  This site features a searchable database of abstracts from articles incurrent and past issues of the American Journal of Ophthalmology including topics about latest advances in ophthalmic surgical techniques or recent research findings.
  
  AppAdvice - AppAdvice is the ideal resource on the Web for people looking to discover iOS apps.
  
  AppleVis - AppleVis is a community-powered website for vision-impaired users of Apple's range of Mac computers, the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
  
  Best iPad Apps - List of iPad apps for teachers. Ranges from digital story telling to apps to teach creativity.
  
  Bill of Rights for All Children with Visual Impairments [ ENG ] [ SPAN ] 
  
  Blindness Resource Center
  
  Braille and Large Print Calendars
  
  Braille Bug
  
  College Accessibility for Visually Impaired Students - Sponsored by Online Colleges
  
  Descriptive Video Service
  
  Financial and Support Resources for Individuals with Vision Impairments  
  
  Guide to Braille Resources
  
  A Guide to Driving with Vision Loss  
  
  Guide to Visual Disabilities: How Colleges Help Visually Impaired Students Succeed
  
  Helping Students with Visual Disabilities: Resources, Tools and Technology to Foster School Success
  
  Louis Database
  
  Laser Eye Surgery Hub, UK - This site provides an international collection of online resources regarding blindness and low vision.
  
  Minimizing Vision Problems in College: A Student’s Guide to Eye Health and Wellness
  
  Money Readers
  
  Neuroscience for Kids, Vision
  
  NIMAC Database
  
  Paths to Literacy For students who are blind or visually impaired.
  
  Perkins Scout
  
  Physical Education (PE) Website at APH 
  
  Prevent Blindness 
  
  Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  
  Vision Associates

APH ConnectCenter

Lighthouse Guild Parent Support Network

Ballyland App

Storybud

Center for Parent Information and Resources

Learning Ally’s Website Adds Features for Parents

Perkins Resources

The Perkins School for the Blind has resources for parent, kids, and teachers that include fiction and non-fiction books and Internet resources. They also have additional teacher resources for your toolkit.

Perkins Scout is a searchable database of carefully evaluated online resources related to blindness and visual impairment. The website mascot, a·dog guide·named Scout, will help you retrieve the information you’re looking for; all of it has been reviewed by Perkins experts and organized for your convenience.

Free Braille Books

Through the Seedlings Book Angel Program, visually-impaired children can receive two free braille books. Choose from print/braille/picture books, print/braille books, or braille only books. Register for Seedlings.

WonderBaby

WonderBaby.org, a project funded by Perkins School for the Blind, is dedicated to helping parents of young children with vision impairments as well as children with multiple disabilities. Much of the content on WonderBaby is provided by parents. They are not just passive observers or consumers of information; many site users comment on articles, answer questions in the Q&A forum, and share hyperlinks to net resources. Some submit original articles. It's in this sharing that WonderBaby earns much of its authenticity. These are real parents with real kids who are blind or visually disabled. They can empathize with other parents seeking answers. Having educated themselves, they feel compelled to give back so that fellow and future parents of children who are blind or visually disabled can also benefit from their experiences.

Youth Transition Toolkit now available online from Talent Knows No Limits

• What is Transition Planning? What is an IEP and how can I lead my IEP Meeting?
• How can I manage my Social Security and medical benefits?
• How does college differ from high school? How can I obtain services for my disability during college?
• What resources are available to help me choose the right career?
• Is there assistive technology available that can help me secure a job?
• How can I find accessible housing to live on my own?
• What should I do to prepare for a job interview?

Braille Tales Free Print-Braille Children’s Book Program

National Braille Press, Programs Promoting Braille Literacy

Hands On! Books for Blind Children is a series of programs for blind children that seek to provide braille books to thousands of blind children and their families throughout every stage of their learning and to provide advocacy and education promoting the benefits of braille. These programs include: Readbooks! Because Braille Matters Family Outreach Program, Bumpy Basics, Children's Braille Book Club, and Lifelong Literacy. Visit the NBP web page for more information about these children’s programs.

What Are They...and, Why Are They So Important?

What is the purpose of an ISBN?

What are the unique characteristics of an ISBN?

Examples of formats which require a unique ISBN include:

• Hardcover versions of textbooks
• Paperbound versions of textbooks
• Indiana Editions of textbooks
• National Editions of textbooks
• Teachers Editions of textbooks
• Examination copies of textbooks (often shared with districts during district new adoption process)
• Revised editions of textbooks
• E-book format of textbooks that are purchased from publisher
• Etc.

1. The current ISBN-13 will be prefixed by "978"...usually
2. Group or country identifier which identifies a national or geographic grouping of publishers
3. Publisher identifier which identifies a particular publisher within a group
4. Title identifier which identifies a particular title or edition of a title
5. Check digit is the single digit at the end of the ISBN which validates the ISBN

Tricks and Tips to Identifying the Correct ISBN!