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Enhancing Accessible Textbooks for Visually Impaired Students in the UK

This report highlights challenges in obtaining accessible textbooks for visually impaired students in the UK, emphasizing the impact on educational progress and social inclusion. Recommendations call for government intervention to modernize production and availability of accessible textbooks.

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Enhancing Accessible Textbooks for Visually Impaired Students in the UK

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  1. Alternative Formats - the VI Issues Nicola Crews MBE Manager: Education and Children's Services April 2008

  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. Welsh quotes … • “Accessing large print textbooks is one of the most difficult areas of our work and children are missing out…” • “Pupils are less independent, affecting self-esteem, having to play continual ‘catch-up’ with classmates…” • “…Having accessible materials benefits self esteem, social inclusion and independence!”

  7. Calls to action - UK wide • 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

  8. Specialist Teachers in Wales say … • “My job would be SO much easier if publishers could produce large print versions of text books.” • “Time is wasted hunting for materials.” • “[Obtaining large print texts] Almost impossible. The government is negligent in not considering the needs of VI kids when promoting new initiatives.”

  9. “It is a nightmare getting hold of books and finding out who has them.” • “Text books are impossible to find, unless other services have adapted them.” • “New publications are particularly difficult to source.” • “Commonly used schools texts are RARELY available.” • "A Wales-wide transcription centre?... Bring it on!!!"

  10. Wales Developments • RNIB Cymru has a contract with DCELLS to produce a limited number of Welsh textbooks per year. • There is a real commitment from Welsh Assembly Government to look at textbook provision - contracts with commissioned books.

  11. Wales developments contd… • RNIB Cymru is working with specialist teachers and the Welsh Assembly Government to further assess the level of provision of curriculum materials. • RNIB Cymru has been given a verbal commitment from the two largest Welsh language publishers in Wales to provide electronic texts.

  12. Welsh developments contd… • The first Welsh-English, English-Welsh Braille Dictionary was launched at Pencoed Comprehensive School last month.

  13. Still a LONG way to go… Next steps? • Hopefully less talk • And a lot more action!

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