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Accessible Assistive Technology Resources Bridges Blog Educational Resources Series: March Madness, Reading Edition; March, 2023

Accessible College Textbook Program

March Madness – Reading Edition!

March is National Reading Month, so the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Helpdesk is celebrating March Madness – Reading Edition! This month, we will be sharing reading-related resources all month long.

In this fourth and last installment of our “March Madness – Reading Edition!” series, we learn about a program that can provide accessible versions of college textbooks.

Can’t I Get My College Textbooks from My School’s Disability Services Office?

Yes, you certainly can. The Maryland Accessible Textbook Program (MATP), discussed below, provides you with an additional option to order textbooks. Also, note that some colleges work with the MATP to provide the books you need.

What Is the Maryland Accessible Textbook Program (MATP)?

The Maryland Accessible Textbook Program (MATP), which is run by the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPD), provides accessible college textbooks for eligible Maryland residents. There is no charge for this service (but the student must purchase the non-adapted materials, just as nondisabled students must do.)

The MATP takes student-purchased college textbooks and provides the material in your choice of the following formats:

  • Large Print
  • Audio (MP3)
  • Microsoft Word
  • PDF
  • DAISY
  • EPUB

How do I sign up for MATP?

In order to sign up with the MATP program, you must complete two documents, the MATP Student Agreement and the MATP Verification Letter & Form. Please contact us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk with any questions or concerns you may have.

What if I want a different format than MATP offers?

If you want your textbook in a different format, such as hard copy braille or BRF (Braille Ready File), you will want to make that request of your college’s Disability Services Office. Additionally, if you want tactile graphics, audio-described videos, etc., contact your college’s Disability Services Office and make a formal request for these as soon as possible. Also, please consider reaching out to us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk for support/guidance in making these requests. We are happy to help you from start to finish, including attending meetings with your college’s Disability Services Office. We are here to support you; just reach out.

What If I Need a Device to Access the Accessible Textbook Files?

The LPBD has a program where you may borrow a Victor Reader Stream from the Library. There is no charge for borrowing the Victor Reader Stream, but you must complete a “Maryland Accessible Textbook Program Victor Stream Loaner Agreement” and take responsibility for any loss or damage to the device while you are using it.

I am a high school student taking college classes. Can I use MATP?

Yes, so long as you are enrolled in a college or university and need these textbooks for your classes. Please note that, if you are participating in the college class through a program in your high school, such as dual enrollment, your school district may also provide the materials you need. Please reach out to us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk if you want ideas or help in requesting accessible materials.

Contact us

Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

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Accessible Assistive Technology Resources Bridges Blog Educational Resources Employment Resources Extracurricular Resources Independent Living Resources Recreation Resources Series: March Madness, Reading Edition; March, 2023

Voice Dream Reader and More!

March Madness – Reading Edition!

March is National Reading Month, so the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Helpdesk is celebrating March Madness – Reading Edition! This month, we will be sharing reading-related resources all month long.

In this third installment of our “March Madness – Reading Edition!” series, we delve into Voice Dream Reader as well as some other accessible reading apps.

About Voice Dream Reader

Voice Dream Reader is a versatile, navigable, and intuitive tool. For ten dollars, you can buy lifelong access to a powerful reading app.

Files that Voice Dream Reader Can Read

You can read multiple file types, including EPUB (that are DRM Free), DAISY Audio, DAISY Text, Plain Text, HTML, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Additionally, Voice Dream Reader can scan many PDF files, even some that other readers might struggle with. If there is a PDF you want to read, you can check if Voice Dream Reader can do it by simply sharing the file with the app, and opening it. If Voice Dream Reader it gives you the option, you can proceed with the scan and read the PDF.

Easy to Load Files into Voice Dream Reader

Sometimes it can be frustrating to make sure the file you want is in a place that your reading app can access. You can store and organize books and other files from a variety of sources, including others apps, the web, and Bookshare. You can also use Voice Dream Reader to access local files on your device.

From a shared Google Drive folder to an online news article to anything from your Bookshare account, you should be able to access virtually any reading material. You should be able to navigate it systematically and customize how quickly and with which voice it is read to you. You can also keep track of it based on (1) where it came from, (2) when you downloaded it, and (3) other, more creative criteria up to and including renaming the file to something that makes more sense to you.

Other Voice Dream Reader Features

  • Can pair with a refreshable braille display
  • Control of Reading Modes
  • Audio Controls
  • Library Management
  • Annotation
  • Visual Controls
  • OCR
  • Free companion Apple Watch app can play your reading list offline while not connected to iPhone
  • Play recordings, like Zoom recordings. For example, if you save a Zoom meeting recording in Dropbox, you can then share it to Voice Dream Reader and play it back from there – including voice controls (speed, etc.).

Voice Dream Reader Limitations

Performance

Of course, no tool is perfect, and no reader is best for every situation. For example, when reading a data table, Voice Dream Reader will just represent the data as a block of text. Maybe that’s good enough for you. If not, perhaps the solution exists within the app itself, and perhaps it would be best to organize that data elsewhere. Either way, Voice Dream Reader tends to work well in the majority of circumstances. If there’s an issue with how best to use it, whether it’s a good fit for you, or what other apps might be best to supplement it, please reach out to us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk; we’re here to help you figure out how best to meet your needs and achieve your goals.

Cost

Voice Dream Reader is a paid app. It costs ten dollars ($10), but this is a one-time cost. You do not need to pay any additional fees for upgrades.

Platform

The Voice Dream Reader app is ONLY available on iOS platforms. This includes iPhones and iPads. However, Voice Dream Reader is not available on Android devices, and it is not available to use on a computer.

Other Free Accessible Reading Apps

NaturalReader

Dolphin EasyReader

BARD: Braille and Audio Reading Download

Bridges Can Help

For more information, including help in funding the hardware or software needed to access reading materials, please reach out to us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk.

Even if you just want to chat about the different options and experiment with them, we are happy to set up a phone call, Zoom meeting, or FaceTime meeting to work with you on any topic.

Whatever you decide, and however you go about it, we look forward to hearing from you. And, happy reading!

Contact us

Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

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Accessible Assistive Technology Resources Bridges Blog Educational Resources Employment Resources Independent Living Resources Information Resources Recreation Resources Series: March Madness, Reading Edition; March, 2023

Bookshare’s New App: Bookshare Reader

March Madness – Reading Edition!

March is National Reading Month, so the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Helpdesk is celebrating March Madness – Reading Edition! This month, we will be sharing reading-related resources all month long. Additionally, on Sunday, March 19, from 8-9 pm, we will host a Student Zoom Meeting featuring Accessible Reading Tools. We look forward to enjoying March Madness with you!

In this second installment of our “March Madness – Reading Edition!” series, we explore the new, free reading app from Bookshare: Bookshare Reader.

Bookshare Background

Bookshare is a service that provides accessible books to qualifying individuals. Bookshare provides a wide range of titles including textbooks, bestsellers, children’s books, career resources, and more. To find out more, check out our Bridges Blog post: Bookshare.

Accessing Bookshare Books

Once you have a Bookshare account, you can access books by either downloading or streaming them. When you download Bookshare titles, you may choose the file format in which you want to access the book using print, enlarged print, audio, and Braille. These file formats include (though not every format for every title): EPUB, DAISY, DAISY with images, BRF, Microsoft Word, DAISY with audio, and MP3.

About Bookshare Reader

Reading Bookshare Books

Like other reading apps, Bookshare Reader allows the user the ability to change the speaking rate and to change the voice itself. In addition, a reader can navigate Bookshare books by using headings coded into the book. However, the coding is not perfect, so navigation can, sometimes, be more problematic.

How Can I Use Bookshare Reader?

Bookshare Reader can be used in multiple ways. Using your Windows OS, MacOS, or Chrome laptop, you can run it through an internet browser on Bookshare (by choosing “Read Now” when you select a book). You can use the same method to stream books on your phone, or you can download and use the iOS Bookshare Reader app or the Android Bookshare Reader app. There is also a Bookshare Reader Skill on Alexa-enabled smart devices and speakers, and you can search for and read Bookshare books using this skill.  

Bookshare Reader is new and improving. It’s free, geared toward people with all print disabilities, and customizable by the consumer.

Why Should I Use Bookshare Reader?

If you’re wondering why yet another reading app has been created, Bookshare Reader has advantages that other options, including the commonly-used alternative, Voice Dream Reader, do not. For example, as long as one has a Bookshare account, it is entirely free. Further, with Bookshare Reader, the text is presented in such a way as to be more readable by your device itself, or by Bookshare’s own voices. Please note: if you use Bookshare Reader on your iOS phone, you must make sure that VoiceOver is off while the reader is speaking, or else the voices will clash. But at the same time, this makes it easier to read out loud by going line-by-line. In the end, Bookshare Reader provides an additional option to use, and individuals can choose which app to use and when to use it to meet their individual needs and comfort levels.

Try It and Help Make It Better

Most new software has hiccups, and that’s to be expected. While it is frustrating that one needs to turn off VoiceOver to use the Bookshare Reader app, it’s a problem that can be fixed.

One might ask why the problem exists in the first place. Well, even though Bookshare is focused on individuals with print disabilities, blind and low vision users are in the minority of Bookshare users. There are many more individuals with learning disabilities and typical vision who use Bookshare. Maybe that’s why the VoiceOver bug wasn’t fixed before release.  

But not to worry … we can help! Bookshare cannot improve its instructional materials or its content without feedback from its constituencies. So if you notice something that could be better, please reach out to us at the Free Bridges Helpdesk or to Bookshare directly; we never know how much better things can get unless we try.

Contact us

Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

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Bridges Blog Educational Resources Employment Resources Extracurricular Resources Independent Living Resources Recreation Resources Series: March Madness, Reading Edition; March, 2023

Free and Low-cost Braille Books

March Madness – Reading Edition!

March is National Reading Month, so the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Helpdesk is celebrating March Madness – Reading Edition! This month, we will be sharing reading-related resources all month long. Additionally, on March 19, from 8-9 pm, we will host a Student Meeting featuring a new reading tool: Bookshare Reader. We look forward to enjoying March Madness with you!

  • March 7: Free and Low-cost Braille Books
  • March 14: Bookshare’s New App: Bookshare Reader
  • March 21: Voice Dream Reader
  • March 28: Accessible College Textbook Program

In this first installment of our “March Madness – Reading Edition!” series, we share resources for – and reasons to obtain – free and low-cost braille books.

Why Braille Books?

This post focuses on braille books (rather than books with enlarged print) because braille books can be difficult to find. Unlike print, braille is a tactile medium, and even refreshable braille has the limitation of only displaying one line at a time. Accessing and using hard copy braille books helps an individual develop efficient braille-reading hand movements, provides spatial information (multiple lines at one time without needing to scroll up or down), and is available even when electronics break down.

Ways to Use Hard-copy Braille Books

There are multiple ways to use these hard-copy braille books – even if you don’t yet read braille!

Current braille readers can:

Individuals learning (or interested in learning) braille:

While nothing replaces quality instruction (in braille or print), you might consider using braille books to help you learn to read braille. Just like with print, reading braille takes PRACTICE! These braille resources can provide you with some self-teaching opportunities. For this purpose, consider getting some books that you enjoy and know by heart). When you read the braille, you will already know what the word is, so you will actually be teaching your fingers what the word feels like! This works best for books in UEB (Unified English Braille) and note that punctuation (period, question mark, etc.) is attached to the word they follow – just like in print.

Please reach out to us at the Bridges Helpdesk for any assistance we can provide.

Free Braille Books to Keep

Seedlings’ Book Angel Program for Children with Vision Loss

Through this program, blind/low vision U.S. children ages birth through 21 may order up to FIVE (5) free braille books per year. Please note that this is limited to books on one or two volumes.

Temple Beth El Braille Book Bindery

Individuals may choose from many Braille books in either contracted or uncontracted Braille. The volunteers of Temple Beth El Sisterhood provide these books at no cost, but they welcome donations of Braille paper, Braille binding supplies, and money to support this mission.

Free Braille Books Program from the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF)

Hard copy braille books. 2023 books include:

Braille Institute’s Special Collection

Blind/low vision children in the U.S. and Canada may order up to 2 Dots for Tots® kits two times per year (targeted at ages 2-5, but open to all—might be great books to read to younger family members, neighbors, etc.).

Free Braille Books on Loan

Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (LBPD) branch of the National Library Service (NLS)

Choose from thousands of braille book titles and over 30 magazines in Braille and electronic Braille formats. Books & magazines can be mailed or downloaded for FREE.

If you are not yet registered as a Library patron, you can complete an English LBPD application or a Spanish LBPD application and email it to the LBPD at reference.desk@maryland.gov.  

If you are not certain whether you are registered as a patron of the Library, please contact the Library at 410-230-2424 or 800-964-9209.

Low-cost Braille Books (to Keep)

BRL—Beulah Reimer Legacy

Very reasonably priced, high-quality Braille-print picture books. Great for learning braille as a teen with books you grew up loving and for braille readers taking care of younger children.

Seedlings Braille Books (for purchase)

Seedlings has a wide variety of braille books for purchase (after you get your three free Angel books—see above). Here are the categories of Seedlings books, followed y the number of titles in each category:

National Braille Press (NBP)

NBP has a variety of titles including some not available anywhere else, including technology guides for blind/low vision individuals, cookbooks, recreational reading, books in Spanish and English, and more.

American Printing House for the Blind (APH)

While APH books are not necessarily low in price, schools have funds that can only be spent at APH. In addition to textbooks and early learning books, APH offers books with tactile graphics that can be helpful in science and other classes.

The Braille Bookstore

The Braille Bookstore offers many titles in hard copy braille for all ages, including adults.

Read How You Want

Read How You Want is a commercial publisher of accessible books, and available formats include Braille and DAISY digital books. While this publisher is located in Australia, prices are in U.S. dollars, and the variety of titles includes many that are not common in the U.S.

Braille Library & Transcribing Services, Inc.

This group offers braille in three ways:

Categories include:

Louis Database of Accessible Materials

“The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) maintains and promotes the Louis Database of Accessible Materials, named in honor of Louis Braille. Louis contains information on accessible materials produced by over 75 organizations throughout the United States and Canada. These materials include educational materials in braille, large print, audio, and electronic file format.

Our aim is to provide maximum visibility to accessible educational materials and to meet that goal, the Louis search also includes information from these national repositories.”

Bookshare – Embossing Bookshare Books

While Bookshare does not provide hard copy books, it does provide the option to download books in BRF (braille-ready file) format. Note: you must be a member of Bookshare to download these files. Then, you may either emboss the books yourself or find another entity (teacher, agency, individual) to perform the embossing.

Contact us

Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

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Bridges Blog Extracurricular Resources Recreation Resources Series: Forward Focus February, 2023

More Opportunities!

Forward Focus February

February may be the shortest month of the year, but that just means that we need to pack it FULL! This month we share resources to help us maintain a Forward Focus in February.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but that just means that we need to pack it FULL! This month we share resources to help us maintain a Forward Focus in February.

In this fourth installment of our “Forward Focus February” series, we explore other opportunities for gaining skills in technology and other areas, making lifelong connections, and pursuing personal growth.

Camps

Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children

The Helen Diller Vacation home offers blind and low vision students an opportunity to stay on the beach (in New Jersey) and engage in fun activities – both at the home and on the road, including recreational adventures to places like Morey’s Pier, boat rides and the Cape May County Zoo and Park. The staff to child ratio is one-to-five.

The camp is free to children ages 7 -15 with a visual impairment, and campers must be able to feed, clothe, and bathe themselves with limited assistance and be able to walk up and down stairs. Two weeks are dedicated as “sighted sibling weeks,” so that blind/low vision campers can bring a sighted sibling to enjoy the camp with them.  Additionally, there is a “reunion week” for students ages 16-20.

There is no charge for the camp or the activities, however, parents are responsible for transportation to and from the camp. Also, students may want to have some extra money with them for souvenirs.

2023 Helen L. Diller Vacation Home Camp Dates (Sunday to Saturday):

 Go to the Helen Diller Camp Registration webpage to register.

Camp Merrick and Other Blindness-related Summer Camps

For years, the Maryland School for the Blind has offered summer camps for blind/low vision students. Some of these are sports-oriented (Camp Abilities) and others are focused on building skills and relationships. Details on this summer’s offerings are not yet available, but the Free Bridges Helpdesk will let you know as soon as they are. If you would like for us to contact you directly with camp information updates, please contact the Free Bridges Helpdesk, and we will notify you as soon as information is available!

Other Summer Camps

There are many summer camps available. Some focus on interest areas, like sports, band, etc. Some are connected to religious groups, and others are simply offering a fun time.

Please remember that the Free Bridges Helpdesk is available to support you in non-academic settings like a summer camp. Please reach out to us to let us help you tear down any obstacles in your way.

For High School Juniors Only: Boys State and Girls State

Boys State and Girls State are opportunities that allow rising high school juniors to engage in a nonpartisan curriculum where students assume the roles of government leaders, campaigning in mock parties (often called “Federalists” and “Nationalists”) to become mayors and county and state officials of their Boys or Girls State. In Maryland, the program is a weeklong immersive learning experience, held on a college campus where students live in “cities” within a dormitory-like setting. The learning, experience, memories, and friendships last a lifetime.

Both programs request information about one’s disability so that they may meet your needs, and the Bridges Helpdesk is available to help them do so. Please contact the Free Bridges Helpdesk for anything, and please share our information with the Boys’ State or Girls State organizers. We are here to help; it’s what we do!

Editor’s note: I participated in Girls State between my junior and senior years of high school on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I was apprehensive at first, but this experience is one that I still treasure. Living on a college campus for a week was fun, but the program provided so much more. We focused on ideas and ideals, not politics. I heartily recommend this experience to all!

Maryland Girls State

Eligibility: Female high school junior in 2022-2023 and have at least one more semester of your senior year to go.

Dates and time: June 18-23, 2023 at Salisbury University (Salisbury, Maryland)

Cost: Typically, tuition is free because your local American Legion Auxiliary Post will support you.

Deadline: April 14, 2023

Girls State Orientation Dates for 2023

  • April 1st  10am -Region 4 – Brooklyn-Curtis Bay Unit 187- 1527 Cherry Street, Baltimore, Md. 21227
  • April 1st 2pm – Zoom
  • April 8th – 10am – Region 5 – Laurel, Maryland Unit 60 – 2 Main Street, Laurel, Md. 20707
  • April 8th – Noon- Region 3 – Dundalk Unit 38 -3300 Dundalk Ave, Dundalk, Md. 21222
  • April 22nd – 10am – Region 1 – Susquehanna Unit 135 – 300 Cherry Street, Perryville, Md. 21903
  • April 22nd – TBD
  • April 23rd – Region 6 – Harry White Wilmer Unit 82 – 6330 Crain Hwy, La Plata, Md. 20646
  • April 29th – 11am Region 8 – Steadman-Keenan Unit 96 – 18 S. Maple Ave, Brunswick, Md. 21716. ( Make up).

If you are interested, please review, complete, and return the Girls State application form (PDF) as soon as possible – April 14 is the deadline! As always, please feel free to reach out to the Free Bridges Helpdesk for anything!

Maryland Boys State

Eligibility: Male high school junior in 2022-2023 and have at least one more semester of your senior year to go.

Dates and time: June 18-24, 2023 at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD (Subject to change)    

Cost: Tuition is free because your local American Legion Post will support you.

Deadline: May 1, 2023.

If you are interested, please review, complete, and return the Boys State application as soon as possible – April 14 is the deadline! As always, please feel free to reach out to the Free Bridges Helpdesk for anything!

Contact us

Follow the Bridges Helpdesk Facebook page for more transition tips, and please contact the Bridges Technical Assistance Center’s Free Helpdesk for Maryland Blind/Low Vision Transition Students, Families, and Educators anytime using:

This unique project is being coordinated through The IMAGE Center of Maryland, a center for independent living in Towson, and it is funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.