A Silicon Bullet for Dyslexia

Mike Matvy
School Psychologist / Assistive Technology Specialist
Knox County Schools, Knoxville, TN
e-mail: matvym@k12.tn.net

Date: 11-22-2002

Who is Eligible for Taped Books?

( According to Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB & D), and Tennessee Library for the Blind)

Any person who has a disability for reading print because of:

1. Learning / Reading Disability,
2. Physical Disability,
3. Blindness or Visual Impairment

Who needs to be encouraged to use alternative methods for reading?

Students who:

• are of mid-average to very superior mental ability.
• cannot read textbooks but can understand those grade level materials when they are read aloud.
• show ability for using oral language to communicate ideas, to solve problems, and to learn.
• have parents and teachers who are willing to try an alternative approach to learning.

(Other alternative methods include: for reading - computers that read print aloud; for writing - computer assisted writing, and dictating with an audio tape dictation device and editing that dictation with word processing on a computer that also reads words and sentances as they are typed.)

How do students use tape recorded textbooks?

• Taped textbooks are ordered by teachers, parents, or students the year before school starts (see ORDERING TAPE RECORDED BOOKS, Mike Matvy, 10-9-94). Students get training on how to use tape recorded materials (see USING TAPE RECORDED BOOKS, Mike Matvy, 6-10-96).
• Taped textbooks are used along with the regular class textbook. This approach has the child reading the same book as other students but just doing it in a different way.
• Using the audio alternative to print requires modification of instructional materials to translate the written language into the child's preferred mode of learning. Some activities are not practical to translate into taped materials. Other methods include someone reading aloud test questions or required reading, e.g. class handouts, assignments from an encyclopedia, reference material in periodicals. Computers can read print aloud and can be used for "reading" all text that appears on the screen (see STARTING TO USE ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR READING, Mike Matvy, 9-8-95).

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How to start?

• Someone must recognize that the student with a disability for reading print could be learning much more by using taped books.
• It is not required but strongly recommended that an Multi-Diciplinary Team (M-Team) be convened at the school for the purpose of discussing the use of tape recorded materiels at home and at school.
• If it is appropriate, the M-Team can make plans to work together to get the applications completed and sent in, and make plans to use this alternative approach to give the student access to print material.
• Call Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB & D) National Headquarters: 20 Roszel Road, Princeton, NJ 08540, 1(800) 221-4792 and request that an application for services be sent to the student.
• Note: Another option for services is for the school to subscribe for an institutional membership with RFB & D. This will let the school order a fixed number of taped textbooks for this or any special education student without requiring that a student be enrolled. However, it is recommended that students personally be enrolled for RFB & D so they will not be limited in the number and kinds of books they use and so they will learn how to use this life time library service.
• RFB & D will send their application (The Tennessee unit of RFB & D, 205 Badger Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830, 1 (423) 482-3496 will, upon request, also send you the application for Tennessee Llibrary for the Blind and Physically Handicap).
• Call your state Library for the Blind and Physically Handicap and request an application for services. To get the number for your states library for serving the blind and physically handicap call your local library or call The Library of Congress at 1 (800) 424-8567. In Tennessee call Tennessee Library for the Blind at 1 (800) 342-3308). (Tennessee Library for the Blind is this state's library for distributing special materials made available through the National Library Service of Library of Congress. Persons outside the state need to contact their state's library for this service)
• Parent - completes the RFB & D application except certifying statement. Parent - completes the Tennessee Library for the Blind application except certifying statement. Under Services Requested check Talking Books on Cassette and Cassette machine.
• Parent - takes RFB & D application to the school and asks that the appropriate school professional certify that this student needs the service.
• Parent - takes the application for your state Llibrary for the Blind and Physically Handicap to a family physician along with copies of M-Team reports, and/or Psychological Report and the completed RFB & D application and asks that the medical doctor complete the application for your state Llibrary for the Blind and Physically Handicap.
• Parent - makes copies of applications for the student's records.
• Mail the two applications to the appropriate addresses on the applications and allow at least two weeks for processing.

What happens next?

• RFB & D will send a welcome letter that will give the student's RFB & D registration number. If after two weeks this has not arrived, call RFB & D to inquire.
• After the RFB & D registration number is given, text books may be ordered by calling RFB & D.
• Your state Library for the Blind and Physically Handicap will call to tell about that service, and answer any questions. Later they will send the special tape player for playing taped books, some taped books and a catalog for ordering books. A catalog update called Talking Book Topics will arrive every other month
• After your state Library for the Blind and Physically Handicap registration is complete you can (1) use the tape player to play RFB & D textbook tapes and (2) order Library of Congress tapes of popular books and classics for pleasure reading.
• Once registration has occurred students need help and encouragement to learn to read in this new way. Teachers and parents need to help by ordering taped books, planning alternative modifications when tape recording is not practical, and encouraging students to learn how to use the tape libraries themselves.

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