AIM-VA Partners:
DBVI and AIM-VA have created a collaborative partnership to offer greater access to Braille materials. DBVI's Library and Resource Center services are provided to local school divisions to support education of visually impaired and blind children.
The Resource Center provides Braille textbooks and novels for use by blind and visually impaired students in their local school districts. Textbooks are produced in the appropriate medium or purchased from another state, and loaned for the school year. Services also include Braille transcription and reproduction of special materials, and the provision of resource and reference services for instructional materials. Materials are loaned to Virginia's blind and visually impaired students and educators for as long as they are needed. The Center also houses an inventory adaptive equipment that is distributed to blind and visually impaired infants, children and youth throughout the state. Inventory items range from technology, such as Braille note-takers and software, to folding canes and Braille paper.
A DRM may order K-12 educational materials produced by DBVI and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), by searching the AIM-VA database and completing the online "Book Request" and provide the following Information needed for orders:
- Title
- ISBN Number
- Publisher
- Syllabus for class for entire school year
Two copies of each book associated with Braille orders may be shipped via “Free Matter for the Blind” to:
Barbara McCarthy, DBVI,Library and Resource Center,DBVI, 395 Azalea Avenue , Richmond, VA 23227-3623
Toll Free (Within Virginia) - 1-800-622-2155 (Voice/TTY) or (804) 371-3140 (Voice/TTY)
The Virginia Accessible Instructional Materials Center (AIM-VA) Renews Statewide License of Read:OutLoud, Accessible eBook Reader To Benefit Students with IEPs or 504 Plan
June 1, 2011 AIM-Virginia is pleased to announce that it has renewed and extended the software license of Read:OutLoud from Don Johnston, Inc. Read:OutLoud is an eBook and web reader designed to read aloud materials from AIM-VA and other accessible instructional materials.
The AIM-VA Read:OutLoud license is now upgraded to a no-term license (no expiration), meaning that you will be able to use Read:OutLoud (version 6) on a continual basis. There will be no annual renewal fees.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. Is there a new License?
Yes. You will receive a new license for Read:OutLoud version 6.0.3. You will be able to continue to use this version as long as it stays compatible with your operating system. Read:OutLoud is compatible with Windows XP and Windows 7 as well as Mac OSX 10.4-10.6. There will no longer be annual license renewals needed in VA. (For more information on Read:OutLoud, http://www.donjohnston.com/resources/readoutloud6_index.html)
2. Are there any free updates?
You will be eligible for free updates that are part of version 6. (i.e. 6.0.x)
3. Will there be any future charges?
You will be responsible for any upgrades beyond version 6.x in the future. (These versions typically include extra features or changes for new operating systems. In this case, you would only pay an upgrade cost (not a full cost) which typically ranges from 40-60% of the retail cost.
4. What students are eligible under this license?
This license is for students who have IEP or 504 plans.
5. What if I want to use this with other students?
There is a small one-time license upgrade fee per building to increase your license. Please contact Don Johnston Incorporated toll-free at 1-800-999-4660, http://www.donjohnston.com/
6. What is new in version 6.0.3?
Version 6.0.3 has a new dictionary feature. We have upgraded to the Oxford English Dictionary.
7. Do I need to install version 6.0.3?
Yes-this new license covers version 6.0.3, so you do need to upgrade your version. We will use the same procedures to help to make this efficient for you. Within the next week, you will receive separate instructions for installation. You will have access to a downloadable copy of the program, an MSI Installer for PC users and a Mac package for Macintosh users.
Questions? Contact Joyce Sharp, AIM-VA, jsharp1@gmu.edu
Bookshare and AIM-VA have created a collaborative partnership to offer greater access to electronic Braille instructional materials.
As an educator, you have the capability of bringing a powerful tool like Bookshare's electronic Braille texts (.brf files) into your classroom to help students who have difficulty reading because of a vision disability.
Some LEAs in Virginia have an existing relationship with Bookshare. This relationship may continue or LEAs may opt to have the benefit of having Bookshare files and other AIM-VA formats available for order through one location, AIM-VA. To access Bookshare's .brf materials via AIM-VA, the Digital Rights Manager appointed by the Superintendent or administrator of your DRMs, must use the online AIM-VA Library database.
What is Bookshare?
Bookshare is an online library that makes print material available for people with print disabilities. It is designed exclusively for the use of the blind and other individuals with print related disabilities. Bookshare has been in operation since February, 2002 and was created by Benetech® (formerly Arkenstone).
What is Benetech and how can I find out more?
Bookshare is an initiative of Benetech, a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of technology to meet important social needs. It is the nonprofit successor of Arkenstone, which developed reading machines for people with visual and learning disabilities. To find out more about Benetech, please visit Benetech's website at www.benetech.org. There you can browse information about Benetech's vision, implementation, and ongoing projects.
How is Bookshare different than RFB&D?
The Bookshare library serves people with disabilities by providing a vast collection of downloadable books in digital text formats. RFB&D provides mainly human narrated audio. Bookshare books can be used with access technology using synthetic speech, large print and/or Braille.
What File Format is Bookshare.org providing through the AIM-VA Library?
AIM-VA has partnered with Bookshare.org to offer digital grade 2 Braille files (BRF format) through the one-stop AIM-VA library database.
Will DRMs need to contact Bookshare.org directly?
DRMs should not need to contact Bookshare.org. The AIM-VA helpdesk should be the first call for DRMs for any questions related to AIM-VA or its partners. To Contact the AIM-VA Helpdesk, please call 866-926-1879 or e-mail, aimva@gmu.edu
Bookshare.com offers a free download of Read:OutLoud, do I need this?
No, AIM-VA provided Read:OutLoud version 6.0.1 to all schools in Virginia. This is a complete version of the software and will work successfully with files from Bookshare. It is not necessary to download the Read:OutLoud Bookshare Version.
What if my school/student already has a membership with Bookshare.org?
If your school and/or students have a Bookshare.org membership, there is no reason to terminate the established relationship. Actually, you may choose how to access files from Bookshare.org, either through AIM-VA or directly through Bookshare.org.
What types of Books does Bookshare.org have in its library?
Bookshare.org has a significant number of electronic text files of all types including core instructional and recreational reading materials.
Do Bookshare files need to be Returned?
Bookshare files do not need to be returned. The files need to be destroyed upon completion of use or retained through AIM-VA for another qualifying student.
Per US Copyright laws, Bookshare files cannot be transferred to or shared with any person who is not qualified under the Chafee Amendment of 1931. Please destroy any Bookshare files the students will no longer be using.
The Virginia Accessible Instructional Materials Center (AIM-VA) Renews Statewide License of Read:OutLoud, Accessible eBook Reader To Benefit Students with IEPs or 504 Plan
June 1, 2011 AIM-Virginia is pleased to announce that it has renewed and extended the software license of Read:OutLoud from Don Johnston, Inc. Read:OutLoud is an eBook and web reader designed to read aloud materials from AIM-VA and other accessible instructional materials.
The AIM-VA Read:OutLoud license is now upgraded to a no-term license (no expiration), meaning that you will be able to use Read:OutLoud (version 6) on a continual basis. There will be no annual renewal fees.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. Is there a new License?
Yes. You will receive a new license for Read:OutLoud version 6.0.3. You will be able to continue to use this version as long as it stays compatible with your operating system. Read:OutLoud is compatible with Windows XP and Windows 7 as well as Mac OSX 10.4-10.6. There will no longer be annual license renewals needed in VA. (For more information on Read:OutLoud, http://www.donjohnston.com/resources/readoutloud6_index.html)
2. Are there any free updates?
You will be eligible for free updates that are part of version 6. (i.e. 6.0.x)
3. Will there be any future charges?
You will be responsible for any upgrades beyond version 6.x in the future. (These versions typically include extra features or changes for new operating systems. In this case, you would only pay an upgrade cost (not a full cost) which typically ranges from 40-60% of the retail cost.
4. What students are eligible under this license?
This license is for students who have IEP or 504 plans.
5. What if I want to use this with other students?
There is a small one-time license upgrade fee per building to increase your license. Please contact Don Johnston Incorporated toll-free at 1-800-999-4660, http://www.donjohnston.com/
6. What is new in version 6.0.3?
Version 6.0.3 has a new dictionary feature. We have upgraded to the Oxford English Dictionary.
7. Do I need to install version 6.0.3?
Yes-this new license covers version 6.0.3, so you do need to upgrade your version. We will use the same procedures to help to make this efficient for you. Within the next week, you will receive separate instructions for installation. You will have access to a downloadable copy of the program, an MSI Installer for PC users and a Mac package for Macintosh users.
Questions? Contact Joyce Sharp, AIM-VA, jsharp1@gmu.edu
Publisher Contacts for AIM-Related Materials and Questions
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers
Holt McDougal
Great Source Education Group
HMH Supplemental Publishers
Rigby/ Steck-Vaughn/ Saxon/ Harcourt Achieve
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Content Conversion Department
9400 South Park Center Loop
Orlando, FL 32819
www.hmhpub.com
HMHAccessibilityRequests@hmhpub.com
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
April Cleland, Primary Contact
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
8787 Orion Place
Columbus, OH 43240
April_Cleland@mcgraw-hill.com
Goodheart-Willcox
Melissa Erffmeyer
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
18604 West Creek Drive
Tinley Park, IL 60477-6243
708-687-5000 x 1133
merffmeyer@g-w.com
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
Ming Chan
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill
2 Penn Plaza
21st Floor Production Dept.
New York, NY 10121
212 904-2883
Ming_chan@mcgraw-hill.com
Pearson Education, including Prentice Hall School Division, Prentice Learning, and Scott Foreman
Thomas Starbranch
Manager, Accessibility and Compliance
Pearson
501 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
617-671-2456
thomas.starbranch@pearson.com
Scholastic
Loretta Marion
Scholastic Inc.
524 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
212-965-7268
lmarion@scholastic.com
SRA/McGraw-Hill
Larry Marotta
Executive Production Editor/NIMAS Coordinator
4400 Easton Commons
Columbus, OH 43219
For publishers not on this list:
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