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Jeff McCormick
Paula Mauro
Jerry Whittaker
ORCLISH
www.orclish.org
The first part of this session will provide follow-up
statistical data on the Literacy Software for Diverse Learning
Needs Project that provided Co:Writer and Write:OutLoud software
to every school district in Ohio. The second part of the session
will focus on Ohio's Eisenhower Project that is providing a
comprehensive professional development plan as well as setting up
eleven local Braille Production Centers to provide accessible
math and science materials to students who are visually impaired
and blind.
Ohio's Literacy Software for Diverse Learning Needs Project
Follow-up
In the state of Ohio, local school districts are increasing
their efforts to provide students with successful literacy
experiences and to provide modifications and accommodations that
enable all students to share and succeed in these experiences.
Ohio educators realize the importance of engaging students in a
variety of reading and writing activities in order to reach high
levels of proficiency.
With the birth of technology and computer-based learning, reading
and writing instruction has taken on a multisensory format as
students are able to integrate their own personal learning styles
with individualized activities.
This statewide initiative, funded by the Ohio SchoolNet
Commission, provides educational technology agencies; Special
Education Regional Resource Centers (SERRCs); the state schools
for the blind and deaf; k-12 public school districts; the joint
vocational school districts; and boards of mental retardation and
developmental disabilities who serve k-12 public school students
with training, training materials, and software to meet
individual learning needs. The SERRCs and the Educational
Technology Agencies are collaborating to provide literacy
training as well as training on Co:Writer and Write:OutLoud
developed by Don Johnston, Inc. to their service areas. Districts
and agencies that attend the training will receive a free copy of
the software programs to use with students in their
districts.
The statewide training effort began in August of 1999 using
training materials developed by the partners. In addition,
procedures for additional purchases of software at reduced rates
was implemented. The partners for this grant are ORCLISH; the
Ohio SchoolNet Commission; the Ohio Department of Education,
Office for Exceptional Children; the sixteen SERRCs; the eight
Educational Technology Agencies; and Don Johnston, Inc.
The 'Literacy Software for Diverse Learning Needs' project
exemplifies Ohio's commitment to provide a successful learning
opportunity for all children.
Eisenhower Project - Enhancing Math and Science Materials for
Students Who are Visually Impaired or Blind Through Professional
Development Activities and Local Braille Production Centers
The goal for Ohio's Eisenhower Project is to assist teachers in
providing accessible math and science curriculum materials for
students who are visually impaired or blind.
Students who are visually impaired or blind have difficulty
accessing math and science curriculum due to the lack of
accessible materials including Braille, large print, and tactile
graphics. The teachers of these students need specialized
knowledge and equipment to provide the adaptations that will
allow these students to access math and science curriculum.
Ohio's solution to this problem has been to:
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