Alternative Formats - the VI Issues

1. Alternative Formats - the VI Issues Nicola Crews MBE Manager: Education and Children's Services April 2008

3. KS4 resources available in large print, braille or audio England, Wales and Northern Ireland • 12% Maths textbooks • 8% Science textbooks • 6% English Language textbooks • No commonly used dictionaries or atlases

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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!”

8. 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

9. 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.”

10. “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!!!"

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Welsh developments contd… • The first Welsh-English, English-Welsh Braille Dictionary was launched at Pencoed Comprehensive School last month.

14. Still a LONG way to go… Next steps? • Hopefully less talk • And a lot more action!