Campaigns

Party Conferences 2008 - Textbooks Factsheet

Summary: Textbooks factsheet - helping blind and partially sighted read textbooks.

• Textbooks blind and partially sighted children can read
• In detail
• Solutions
• What are we doing?
• What do we need to do next?
• Contact us

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Textbooks blind and partially sighted children can read

How you can contribute to RNIB’s campaign to ensure blind and partially sighted children can read their textbooks

Summary

RNIB research found few textbooks are available in large print or braille (for example only 12 per cent of maths GCSE textbooks). Blind and partially sighted children’s educational progress is affected by this lack of textbooks they can read according to nine out of ten teachers.

In detail

• There are less than 20,000 children of school age who are blind or partially sighted. Most are in main stream schools.
• Each child is different. Each child will need a different size of font, may or may not read braille or use a computer or magnifier.
• Because so few textbooks are available in accessible formats teachers and support staff have to create them. They spend much of their time photocopying, enlarging and retyping textbooks - all in order to produce larger print and braille for their blind and partially sighted pupils.
• These problems/solutions apply to children with dyslexia and other print reading disabilities.

Solutions

• Nine out of ten teachers said it would be very helpful to have access to electronic versions of textbooks.

If a teacher has access to an accessible electronic version they are able to change the size, colour and type of font to suit pupils with different needs.

An accessible file can also be converted into braille or read on a computer using a speech or magnification package. Some electronic files are not accessible (for example some pdf) which means teachers cannot make these changes to help their pupils.

• 82 per cent of teachers thought it would be very helpful if there was a central agency that provided accessible versions of textbooks in an electronic format.

At present there is no procedure for obtaining electronic files. Some publishers provide them on request but charges vary enormously. Usually teachers create them themselves with schools often duplicating work.

What are we doing?

We have been highlighting this problem as well as working with Government and publishers to deliver a solution.

• March 2007 - 250 blind, partially sighted and dyslexic children and their parents and teachers lobby MPs.
• Summer 2007 - Government convenes meetings between publishers representatives, Government and RNIB who begin planning a project to test using publishers electronic files to create large print, audio and braille textbooks.
• Autumn 2007 - Government postpones meetings and doesn't deliver on action points.
• May 2008 - Lord Adonis announces the accessible resources pilot that will seek to make textbooks accessible to children who can’t read standard sized print in textbooks and develop schools’ access to resources in electronic format.
• July 2008 - Scoping exercise completed by RNIB and partners to inform pilot project and DCSF confirm tender will be issued in September.

What do we need to do next?

RNIB will be using its expertise to support the pilot project. We will also be monitoring its progress. When the pilot project delivers its recommendations we will be pressing the Government to implement them.

What can you do?

You can help us to campaign for more accessible textbooks.

MPs

• Sign Early Day Motion 1210.
• Become a Textbook Monitor - join a group of MPs supporting this issue, help us to ensure pilot project stays on track and its recommendations are resourced and implemented.

Publishers

• Please get involved in the Accessible resources pilot project if you are approached.
• If you publish ebooks - please take steps to make them accessible to people using access technology (often DRM stops this happening).
• Check whether you have a process in place for being able to store and retrieve accessible electronic versions of your textbooks publications?
• Make sure your website is accessible.

Teachers (or other in education)

• If you have experience of providing accessible textbooks for print disabled children please tell your MP about it. Even better invite them to visit your school.
• Please also tell us about your experience (sign the Declaration and leave a comment online or link).

Individuals

• Add your name to the Right to Read Declaration.
• Write to your MP - you may want to use our draft letter.
• If you are involved in Year of Reading events please ensure your events are accessible to people who can't read print.

Contact us

If you would like further information please contact us by phone 020 7391 2184 or by email campaign@rnib.org.uk

Further information on the 'Right to Read' campaign.

Note: This fact sheet refers to England only. Please contact righttoread@rnib.org.uk for more information about Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Back to Party Conferences 2008

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13