Accessible Educational Materials for Children with Print Disabilities
Frequently Asked Questions General-
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GeneralThe Accessible Educational Materials for Students with Print Disabilities (AEM) Grant Program,a three-year, $300,000 project, is based on Colorado House Bill 06-1004, "Concerning the Creation of a Grant Program to Provide Funding for Organizations that Supply Accessible Educational Materials for Students with Print Disabilities, and Making an Appropriation Therefore".
Faculty or administrators from interested schools are encouraged to complete a contact form at the following website: http://www.at-partners.org/PrintDisabilities/ Researchers can also be reached by phone at (303) 315-1280.
Assistive Technology Partners was established in 1989 under a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). Today, Assistive Technology Partners is part of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, at the University of Colorado Denver.  Assistive Technology Partners provides a unique integration of capabilities and services for persons with disabilities and associated professional affiliations. Assistive technology is technology used by individuals in order to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. Assistive technology can include mobility devices such as walkers and wheelchairs, as well as hardware, software, and peripherals that assist people with disabilities in accessing computers, books, and other information technologies. ResearchWhat are the goals of the research? There are three goals for this study. The primary goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot program which will distribute assistive technology materials and equipment to 4th through 6th grade students who read below grade level and are not receiving Special Education Services. It is hoped that data collected will also provide insight into the relative efficacy of assistive technology devices in supporting literacy development in this population. Finally, the researchers hope to use study results to determine the feasibility of extending the project in order to support a greater number of students across Colorado. Which student's are eligible to participate in the study? Students in 4th through 6th grade classrooms who have an independent learning plan in place or who are receiving Response to Intervention (RTI) services to improve their reading proficiency. Are students who are learning English as a second language eligible to participate? Unfortunately the study design does not allow for students whose primary language is not English. As long as the student attends a 4th through 6th grade classroom and meets the criteria above, they are eligible to participate. Are students who receive special education services under an IEP eligible to participate? No, this study is geared towards students who are receiving Response to Intervention services and/or have an Individual Learning Plan (for reading) in place. What is a consent form and why does the student/teacher need to sign it? A consent form, also known as "informed consent", is a means of protecting study participants from adverse and unanticipated effects stemming from the research. A good consent will outline exactly what is expected of the participant, what will occur during the study, their rights as participants and highlight any known or anticipated risks involved in participating. By signing this form the participant acknowledges that they understand the information outlined in the consent. Signing a consent form is not a legal contract to complete the study; only an acknowledgement that the participant is aware of and understands the information in the document. Minors or individuals who are not their own legal guardians can not and will not be asked to sign consent. This process will be completed by their parents or legal guardian. However, minors will be asked to sign an Assent form to ensure their willingness to participate in the study. This form, written in simple language, is designed to mitigate coercion. It gives the student a chance to decline participation after learning about the study. Will the school have to administer the consent the students? No, the consents will be completed by the parents or guardians. Trained staff from Assistive Technology Partners will assist with administration over the phone if assistance is needed. Schools may be asked to assist with the dissemination of consent/assent forms. 160 Students (80 intervention, 80 control) will participate for a single year; however we plan to repeat the study the following year with a new group of students to achieve a total of 320 students over the two years. Teachers who wish to continue the study and who have eligible students may be in the study for both years. Will you be requesting educational records and if so how do you intend to handle FERPA requirements? During the recruitment process we will complete Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) documentation for each participating student using that school district’s form. Assistive Technology Partners will also complete additional documentation requirements as requested by participating district’s to ensure adherence to their security and privacy requirements. What is the school/teacher required to do if they choose to participate in the study? Complete details of the tasks required of the school, teacher, and student can be found in the protocol. A bulleted list is provided here:
Teacher:
Student:
What are the benefits to the school/students for participating? This study is for researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver to learn whether use of assistive devices improves reading skills for students in 4th through 6th grade classrooms. We will learn how easy it is to use the technology. We will also learn whether the technology improves reading scores. Study researchers can not predict any direct benefit to the student or school from participating in this study; however schools will receive technology free of charge to use for the year. Teachers will receive professional development materials and direct assistance with learning and implementing the devices (if requested). Schools will also receive institutional memberships to the Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic. Can the school keep the technology when the study is complete? No, the technologies will be used again with a new round of students the following year. At the conclusion of the study all devices and software will be added to a statewide educational loan bank geared towards supporting assistive technology providers in Colorado schools. TechnologyHow can technology help struggling readers? Assistive technology devices and software can assist struggling readers by providing visual and auditory feedback for words. These tools allow the students to read along more easily and have instant feedback for words that are difficult to read. This approach can improve word recognition, reading fluency and reading comprehension. Additional resources on the benefits of using assistive technology to support reading can be found on the "Learning through Listening" website. What devices will be used in the study? The following devices and software will be included in the intervention phase of the study.
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) is a national nonprofit, volunteer organization, which produces accessible educational materials for students with disabilities such as visual impairment or dyslexia that make reading standard print difficult or impossible. With titles available in every subject area and grade level from kindergarten through graduate studies, RFB&D's digitally recorded textbooks are effective learning tools for students challenged by the printed page. What is Bookshare.org? (from the website) Bookshare.org is an online community that enables people with visual and other print disabilities to legally share scanned books. It is designed exclusively for the use of the blind and other individuals with print related disabilities.
Students who want to obtain free individual memberships without the assistance of their schools can submit the Individual Membership and proof of disability forms on their own, and request a student subscription online. For more information, visit our Individual Subscriptions page. Are there other audio book resources for individuals with learning disabilities? There are many resources for electronic books in the Internet. Some of the more popular include:
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