rhif elusen gof. 226227 reg charity no. 226227 alternative formats - the vi issues nicola crews mbe...
TRANSCRIPT
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
Alternative Formats - the VI Issues
Nicola Crews MBE
Manager: Education and Children's Services
April 2008
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
KS4 resources available in large print, braille or audioEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• 12% Maths textbooks
• 8% Science textbooks
• 6% English Language textbooks
• No commonly used dictionaries or atlases
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
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
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
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
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
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
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
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!”
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
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
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
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.”
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
• “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!!!"
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
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.
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
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.
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
Welsh developments contd…
• The first Welsh-English, English-Welsh Braille Dictionary was launched at Pencoed Comprehensive School last month.
Rhif elusen gof. 226227Reg charity no. 226227
Still a LONG way to go…
Next steps?
• Hopefully less talk
• And a lot more action!