News You Can Use

Looking for literacy-focused activities? Here are a few fun and engaging ideas for the month of March.

There are certainly times when your students will want to read on their small mobile devices. To help with proper alignment when they are reading for any length of time, there are supports that are designed specifically for small tablets and cell phones to aid in positioning.

Don’t forget to order and download reading books for your students from AIM-VA to support the celebration of Black History Month.

Positioning supports for larger mobile devices such as laptops, Chromebooks and braille displays when reading are similar to monitor supports in that they can be placed on desks, positioned for using when seated in chairs or in bed, or when on the go – using mobile mounts.

Computer monitors are large, so they are usually placed on a desk or mounted on a wall. Ways to change the positions of these monitors seem to be readily available, as positioning supports can be found in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. So, which is best for your student?

Reading electronic books generally involves the device screen. However, your students need to be able to control the device to access books, so keyboard supports are necessary when creating a better, well supported reading environment.

Did you know that students with complex reading support needs and print disabilities can benefit from a variety of reading formats? When making decisions on which format to use consider that students will have varying needs.

Last year, a student’s postural alignment while reading when seated at desks, on sofas and chairs or lying in bed was reviewed. Many technologies were introduced that might prove helpful. Yet, how can these ideal positions be acquired if a student is not the right size for the desk, chair, or sofa that is at school or home?

Are you looking for new or improved ways to integrate accessibility in your classroom or schools? The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) AEM Café may be the resource for you.

Creating annotations is important for readers who want to take notes while they are reading. Taking notes of important items to remember will make it easier to review the document for main ideas or important details. It’s also a way to note where there are questions that need to be answered. Creating annotations helps students become involved and engaged with the text. It may help students focus on the important content in the text.