Tagged with ' Reading'

Access Angle: The Importance of Audiobooks and Accessibility 

By: Gabriel Ryan, School Health Blog Writer and Contributor

Audiobooks revolutionize the way we interact with literature. They can be valuable for individuals with learning disabilities, visual impairments, or that have difficulty reading or physically holding printed material.

What are Audiobooks?

Audiobooks, sometimes described as a “talking book,” are audio files or recordings of books and other pieces of literature that are read out loud. A reading of the complete text, word-for-word, is called “unabridged,” while an edited version that is shorter is called “abridged.” The recordings are available on records, cassette tapes, CDs, and most popular in digital formats at the present time. Depending on the format, they can be listened to on CD players, Walkmans, computers, tablets, smart phones, home and car entertainment systems, etc.

Spoken word recordings were invented in the late 1800s by Thomas Alva Edison, but the early 1900s is when audiobooks emerged as a result of the creation of a recording studio that supported this purpose. “In 1931, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and Library of Congress Books for the Adult Blind Project established the ‘Talking Books Program’ (Books for the Blind), which was intended to provide reading material for veterans injured during World War I and other visually impaired adults,” according to Matthew Rubery, ed. (2011). "Introduction". Audiobooks, Literature, and Sound Studies. Routledge. pp. 1–21. 

You read that right!…Inclusivity and access for people with disabilities was one of the main reasons audiobooks were further established back in the 1900s!

The developments of audiobooks opened the door for Shakespeare’s plays, popular novels, and even the Bible and the Constitution to become available in this audio format many years ago. Audiobooks gained more popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s when further technology, such as digital media players, became available. By 2017, as technology continued to evolve and expand, consumers were listening more to a digital source rather than physical CDs or audio cassette tapes. Shared by Writer’s Digest in 2022, “…audiobooks are the fastest-growing format in book publishing,” and are, “…predicted to become a $19 billion dollar industry by 2027”.

Originally, audiobooks were read by one narrator and this person was not necessarily the author of the book. It has become popular in more recent times, that Authors narrate their own books or that an entire cast be a part of the recording, instead of just one voice. This has drawn even more people into enjoying and connecting with the material in digital format. Audiobooks provide opportunity and access for people to read more content than ever before since they can read books and “how to” manuals while commuting or multi-tasking.

In education, the use of audio material is invaluable. As an individual with both visual and physical impairments, I was able to take advantage of audio access of printed material back in the late 1990s through early 2000s. I was assigned a cassette player and the books for book reports and class assignments were sent home with me as multiple cassettes. Schools could request to borrow these materials from organizations that support individuals with blindness and visual impairment. At the time, my textbooks were chopped up and scanned into a large digital scanner. There was a program on my assigned laptop that could read the material and highlight the words as they were being spoken. This was certainly a great deal of work for those scanning each page. However, a bit later, the digital copy of the textbooks was available within the teachers’ materials, and we could then use those, instead of having to request the deconstruction of the textbooks. I personally am grateful these materials and access has further developed. I can look up just about anything now on my tablet or smart speaker and listen and learn. I’ve been able to participate in book clubs and discussions about books and related material without having to special order or carry around a cassette or CD player. There are several audiobook platforms that have subscriptions or offer free materials. I am excited to see what the next chapter will unfold in this technology!

Now, with the tap of a screen or the click of a button, a wealth of knowledge and information becomes accessible to all.

Let us know: Did you find this article interesting? Would you like to read more of these types of articles? Do you have a topic you would like to see highlighted? Contact me through email– Gabe Ryan gryan@schoolhealth.com. I’d love to know how you’ve used information from the School Health Access Angle segments.

Hot Fun (and Preparation) in the Summertime!

By: Dr. Raymond Heipp

Thank you to Sly and the Family Stone for the title and movement into this month’s blog!

July is an interesting month in the lives of educators. They may be on summer break, others may be moving back into the building, and some may be taking courses or attending summer conferences in preparation for the upcoming year. No matter what you are doing right now, there will still be more preparation that you do for the fall. Over the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to connect with educators and therapists at both conferences and in their district sessions. As I spoke with them, I asked what the top five pieces of advice they would suggest for July preparation to other educators. Their answers were very cool and showed the differences that each group had when thinking about the fall.

Top Suggestions:

Special Education Teacher

I’ll begin with the top five suggestions from a veteran Special Education teacher. I was at her district discussing approaches for specific students using assistive technology, along with looking at what they might need for their new students. The first suggestion she gave for her top five in July was to read any book that covers working with our neuro-diverse individuals. She suggested that reading a book like this in July put her into a generalized positive mindset before moving back into the daily grind. One book example she gave was Thinking In Pictures by Temple Grandin. Her second July suggestion was to acquire a class list for her upcoming classroom. She uses that class list to contact her students at the end of the summer with a letter or email to see how they are doing and let them know how excited she is to be working with them. She shared that this technique helps to ease the anxiety around the first day back and, in some cases, gets the students excited about coming to school. Her third July suggestion is to take a trip to the beach (her favorite place to be) or your favorite venue where you spend one day doing nothing but relaxing. For her, she stated this is “the final charge of her battery” before beginning her own routine for the school year. This activity leads into suggestion number four, which is to start mirroring times that you would normally go to bed, eat, and go to sleep during the school year. She uses “school time” for housework or other work to get her mind and body prepared for “work time.” Her final suggestion is to start getting your family into a set schedule, similar to the routine they will be using in the fall. This includes dinner at an appropriate time around practice and meetings. Her children would go screenless and read after dinner to mirror homework time. Her children are now out of college and do not live at home, making evening schedules less tedious as they once were!

Occupational Therapist

During a conference, I had the opportunity to spend time with an Occupational Therapist that I have known for many years. She also works with both teachers and students in after school yoga programs that she runs. Her first July suggestion is similar to our previous teacher because it centers around reading a book. The difference is that she prefers to read something fictional and as far from education as possible. She is a fan of mysteries and always has time for authors like Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell, and Margaret Maron. Also similar, her second suggestion is to check-in with upcoming students. She has already designed some summer plans for her returning case load and shared it before summer break began. She uses July as a touchpoint for how the plans are followed and gets a sense of where the students may be when she or he returns for the fall. Her third suggestion is to look at the supplies you needed for the fall, especially supplies that many of us purchase on our own. She likes to have what she needs by the end of July, so that she doesn’t have to worry about shortages closer to the start of the year. Her fourth suggestion is to review one’s diet and exercise routine. The period of time from June into the beginning of July sees her stray from consistent healthy eating and exercise habits. She uses mid-July to transition back into healthier activities. Her final suggestion is to attend a summer conference or institute on a topic in your area. She recently attended a conference on movement in learning and was spending some time thinking about how she could adjust her own activities. She was also putting together some classroom suggestions for her teachers.

Administrator – SPED Director

During another district session, I spent time with an administrator. She was the SPED Director for a smaller district and her suggestions reminded me of my time in administration. Her first piece of advice was for other administrators to make sure that all student information is updated and included in packets for the teachers. She shared that her days had more flexibility in July than any other month, so she spends an hour or two a day ensuring that she has this information to distribute. Her second suggestion was also for administrators to network. She says that she puts in calls to neighboring districts, as well as other SPED Directors she has a good relationship with, to share ideas about what is working and what adjustments can be made. She prioritizes these calls above anything else she is doing in the summer as it gives her valuable insights that she may not have had prior. Her third suggestion is to host sessions for teachers and to bring in experts from different areas. She chuckled as she looked at me and said, “Now you know why you are here!” I will admit that the session I did on assistive technology was great because the teachers were excited to be there and were extremely relaxed as they did not have other pressing classroom matters to distract their attention. I had to laugh when she read me one of the end evaluations which stated, “Dr. Ray was great, and lunch was superb!” Glad I wasn’t rated too far behind lunch! Her fourth suggestion was directed at teachers and therapists. She recommends spending a week away from any thoughts on school and, if possible, to do as little work of any kind. She highlighted activities like family vacations or utilizing the time that a teacher’s children might be at a camp for relaxation. Her final suggestion was for everyone within the buildings to begin looking at the school year as a fresh start. “Bring your happy face and a lot of hope.” She has noticed teachers and therapists return feeling worn down by the world around them, especially over the last few years. She opined, “School can be a sanctuary from the world when we all work together in a positive manner.”

So, there are fifteen ideas around July preparation for the upcoming academic year. If I may be so bold, let me add two more from my own experience. First and foremost, if you are not already doing it, find five minutes every day for “you time.” It might be before everyone wakes up or after everyone goes to bed. Read, meditate, have a cup of tea, do some yoga, or go for a brief run. Whatever activity relaxes and recenters you should be a priority. People I am familiar with know that I have walks every day to revitalize myself. Second, affirm yourself and the commitment you have made to your students! You are making a difference in this world, especially in the world of your students! Know that your efforts are appreciated for without you, the future for our students would not be as bright!

Gabriel Ryan, School Health Blog Writer and Contributor 

The Orcam Read Handheld Reading Device

If you have difficulty reading text, never fear, the OrCam Read is here! The OrCam Read is a smart pen that converts text from any printed surface or digital screen into audio. This device is for people with low vision, reading fatigue, reading difficulties, including dyslexia, and for anyone who would prefer to listen to the text. This small portable assistive reading device uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

One of the newest features of OrCam Read is that it can be activated with voice commands by saying “Hey OrCam” followed by the command. Now, let’s talk about what is in the box! Inside you'll receive the OrCam Read device, User Guide, charger box, wired earphones, cleaning cloth, and lanyard.

The Dr. Phil show featured the OrCam Read with special guest, Schools Health’s very own Dr. Ray Heipp. Dr. Ray also created a few informational videos about the OrCam Read, such as this one, Talkin’ Tech: OrCam Read Handheld Reading Device. You can visit the School Health website to learn more about this product and to purchase the OrCam Read. Plus, for a limited time, you can try the OrCam Read for FREE! Check out this link to register for a two-week trial.