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Improving Access to Accessible Textbooks for Visually Impaired Students in the UK

In April 2008, findings reveal significant challenges in obtaining accessible textbooks for visually impaired (VI) students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A staggering 92% of respondents frequently faced difficulties in sourcing large print materials, and 85% reported similar issues with braille textbooks. Respondents indicated that delayed access adversely affected social inclusion and educational progress for pupils. The RNIB calls on the government to enact a national plan to modernize the production and availability of accessible textbooks and implement effective pilot projects for electronic formats.

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Improving Access to Accessible Textbooks for Visually Impaired Students in the UK

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  1. VI issues in the fieldApril 2008 Rory Cobb National Development Officer: Qualifications and Curriculum RNIB

  2. KS4 resources available in large print, braille or audio England, Wales and Northern Ireland • 12% Maths textbooks • 8% Science textbooks • 6% English Language textbooks • No commonly used dictionaries or atlases

  3. Difficulties experienced in obtaining textbooks from external providers • 92% respondents “frequently” or “quite often” experienced difficulties in obtaining large print textbooks • 85% “frequently” or “quite often”experienced difficulties in obtaining braille textbooks

  4. Time spent by VI services and schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in providing accessible textbooks % Under 10% 26 10% to 49% 38 50% to 74% 18 75% plus 18

  5. Effect on pupils • 54% respondents said pupils frequently or quite often experienced delays in obtaining materials from external sources, 20% for in house production • 53% felt delays had a large effect on social inclusion, 39% some effect • 38% felt delays had a large effect on educational progress, 54% some effect

  6. Calls to action • Government to take responsibility for national plan to modernise production and availability of accessible textbooks • set up pilot project • promote development of portal for sale and licensing of electronic textbooks • foster agreement on single file format • follow example of USA and other countries

  7. Progress to date • March 2007 Lobby of Parliament • Summer 2007 Meetings with DCSF • January 2008 Steering group established • February 2008 Tender specification for scoping exercise drawn up • April 2008 Still not signed off by ministers

  8. Steering Group membership • DCSF • RNIB • British Dyslexia Association • British Educational Suppliers Association • Publishers Licensing Society • BECTA

  9. Draft tender specification ‘DCSF believes that the solution to this problem lies in ensuring the availability of curriculum materials in electronic form to enable the efficient production of formats which are accessible to all learners with print disabilities.’

  10. Next steps - • Hopefully less talk • And a lot more action!

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