1. Improving Literacy for People
with Vision Loss
October 15th, 2012
6:30pm-8:00pm

2. Welcome!
Improving Literacy for People
with Vision Loss

3. Asking Questions
Using the control panel:
During the Q & A session
you can ask questions by
clicking on the “Raise Hand”
button
Type your question in the
“Questions” box during the
presentation
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4. Today’s Agenda
I. The importance of improving
literacy for people with vision loss
II. LCI - Reading Action Program
III. Partner Presentations:
A. The Hadley School for the
Blind
B. American Foundation for the
Blind
C. Bookshare
IV. Discussion
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5. Importance of Literacy for People with Vision Loss
• Literacy is important for:
 Learning and Development
 Academic Achievement
 Occupational Opportunity
 Social Success
• In U.S.10% of blind children are
learning Braille
• 85% of blind children attend
public schools where few
teachers know Braille
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6. Reading Action Program
Challenges Lions to focus on literacy and
access to educational tools and resources.
• Promotes the importance of reading
• Encourages community service:
o Serve as a volunteer reader
o Support Braille literacy
o Organize a book drive
o Provide technological resources
and training to schools in need
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7. Reading Action Program
Resources:
 Call to Action Flyer
 Project Idea Sheet
 Planning Guide
 Press Release
 Bookmarks
 Diploma
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8. Reading Action Program Online
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9. Community Needs Assessment
Community Needs Assessment
LCI code: MK-9
• Provides step-by-step guidelines to
determine community needs, to avoid
duplication of services.
• Contains a needs assessment
questionnaire you can send to:
o School Principals
o Teachers
o Library Personnel
o Agencies
o Children’s organizations
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10. Poll Question
Are you currently involved with
projects or activities that are
focused on literacy and serve
people who are blind or
visually impaired?
Choose: “Yes” or “No”
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11. Resources and Service Opportunities
Partner Presentation
Judy Matsuoka, Instructor
The Hadley School for the Blind
www.hadley.edu
Judy@hadley.edu
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12. Hadley School for the Blind – Literacy Along the Lifespan
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13. Distance Education Since 1920
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14. Parents of Babies and Toddlers
Coming- Fall 2013
Braille and Your Baby or Toddler
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15. Teachers
Teaching
Braille Reading
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16. Braille Courses for Sighted People
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17. Learning Braille
Courses for Sighted People Who Need
to Learn Braille
 Introduction to Braille
 Basics of Nemeth Code for Math
 Contracted Braille
 Braille Music Basics
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18. Braille Courses for People with Visual Impairments
Courses for Learning to Read by
Touch
 Using Raised Markers
 Braille Literacy 1: Tactile Readiness
 Braille Literacy 2: Learning the
Alphabet
 Braille Literacy 3: Uncontracted
Braille
 Braille Literacy 4: Contracted Braille
 Experience Braille Reading
 Essentials of the Nemeth Code for
Math
 Braille Music Reading
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19. How May a Lion Work with Hadley?
For more information visit:
www.hadley.edu
Click on "About"
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20. Resources and Service Opportunities
Partner Presentation
Ike Presley, Project Director
American Foundation for the Blind
www.afb.org/lions
ipresley@afb.net
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21. Improving Literacy
Using Technology to:
 Support Literacy
 Promote Literacy
 Enhance Literacy
 Sustain Literacy
 Develop Literacy
○(not so much)
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22. What Can Technology Do?
Technology Provides Tools for:
 Accessing Printed Information
 Accessing Electronic Information
 Communicating Through Writing
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23. What Kind of Tools?
Tools for Accessing Information
Visually
Tactilely
Auditorily
It takes a toolbox full of tools to be
successful!
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24. The Need
Technology Training
 Service providers
 Consumers
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25. The Need
• Technology Training
 Service providers
○ Button pushing
○ Instructional strategies
▫ This is the big need
• How do I teach this technology?
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26. The Need
Technology Training
• AFB addresses this need through
 Face-to-face training
 Conference presentations
 E-Learning Center
○ On-line courses
○Webinars
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27. Lions Involvement
Consider Financial Support for
Training Opportunities:
 AFB face-to-face trainings
 AFB e-Learning
courses/webinars
 AFB curriculum development
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28. Lions Involvement
• Support Training Opportunities
Partner with AFB and other funders
○Provide training facility
○Provide funding for training materials
○Provide support for service providers
to attend training opportunities
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29. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
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30. Resources and Service Opportunities
Partner Presentation
Kristina Pappas, International Program Manager
Bookshare ”Making Reading Accessible to All”
www.bookshare.org
kristinap@benetech.org
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31. The Challenge
Photo: mehan
Photo: C. Frank Starmer
Photo: Lance Bellers
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32. What is Bookshare?
65,000+ Titles
208,000+ (160,000+ with
Members WIPO Treaty)
8+
40+ Countries Languages
20+ 200+ Publisher
LIBRARY Internation Partners
al Partners
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33. Bookshare in Education
All photos: Benetech
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34. Lions Club + Bookshare= Great Opportunity!
Photo: C. Frank Starmer
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35. Poll Question
What types of projects would be of
interest to you?
 Community awareness
 Braille literacy
 Access to technology
 Digital library
 Advocate for local schools and
teachers
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36. Questions & Answers
Hi Lions!
Please raise your hand if you
would like to ask a question.
Click on the “raise hand button”
which looks like this:
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37. Service Activity Report
Report
Service
Activities
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38. Thank you for your Participation!
A roaring “Thank you!”
More information: programs@lionsclubs.org
Marilee Kadar, Manager, Health & Children’s Services
Kate Barcal, Manager, Program Development
www.lionsclubs.org
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