Many modern advancements have occurred in the first quarter of the 21st Century. Among these advancements, resources for people with disabilities are plentiful. When it comes to reading and writing, there are various ways that individuals with limited mobility, disabilities, or other challenges can read and write more effectively. These tools of inclusivity empower people to navigate the world with independence and confidence.
Growing Demand for Assistive Tools
During what is referred to as the greatest mass-disabling event, the COVID-19 pandemic surged the need for assistance, reaching 28.7% of the population as of 2022. Some of the most common long-term COVID symptoms include organ damage, neurological damage, lingering mental health conditions, and joint or muscle pain. With the increased need for assistance, resources, and equipment, more reading and writing alternatives began to emerge in mainstream channels.
With such a sharp increase in people with disabilities and the preexisting population already using the services available, it became clear that we, as humanity, were not ready for the aftermath that would follow a global pandemic. Despite school enrollment declining after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of students receiving services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) increased. For the 2022-2023 school year, a record 7.5 million students with disabilities in the United States enrolled.
Educational Resources for People With Disabilities
In an educational setting, teachers can help students from diverse backgrounds improve their reading and writing skills in various ways. Students with disabilities have commonly used alternative pencils for a long time to assist with writing. If a student struggles with dyslexia, for example, it is widely believed that alternative font choices, such as Dyslexie, aid in reading. Whereas if a student has Cerebral Palsy, a teacher would prefer using grip aids, keyguards, or other adapted writing tools.
Regardless of the disability, teachers have myriad options available to them if funding is available. Assistive Technology (AT) available includes software, hardware, and peripherals working together or alone to assist people with disabilities. Alphabet eye gaze frames and print flip charts are recognized tools offered by the UNC School of Medicine’s Center for Literacy and Disability Studies.
Slant boards and adaptations that enlarge the pencil are obvious choices for teachers seeking to expand accessibility in the classroom. With a rise in technology, there are now more stylus options coming out to improve the grip of a touchscreen’s stylus, as well. Accessibility also expands to include the use of 3D printers, allowing for the creation of low-cost aids such as grids to keep writing in line, which is especially appreciated when working with mathematical equations.
There are many avenues to discover reading and writing educational resources that can encourage a love of language in all children. From DIY solutions to manufactured options, the important aspect is to experiment with different tools to see what the student likes best. While all these textile methods work well for primary education, it is important to take advantage of the technological advances as we transition children into a world of reading and writing.
Alternate Communication for Adults
Despite all the handwriting practice in our formative years, adults rarely pick up a pencil to write anymore. Alternative keyboards offer a wider range of benefits for individuals with physical, cognitive, or visual disabilities. Some options are as simple as one-handed keyboards, while others feature a programmable interface that allows users to fully customize their keyboards. Large print, high-contrast, on-screen, and braille keyboard counterparts are also widely available for those who may need them.
Writer Eddie Ndopu, who, “with one good finger,” wrote Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw: Reimagining Success as a Disabled Achiever, showcases the importance of accessibility. Voice recognition software, web applications, keyboard alternatives and customizations, and educational software can work independently or collaboratively to enhance communication. On-screen keyboards are everywhere, meaning that there are also third-party keyboards that allow for high-contrast versions, word prediction, and even some that are compatible with eye-gaze-controlled computers.
Similarly, Haben Girma wrote a book, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law, utilizing accessibility tools. As a public speaker and inclusion advocate, she also puts into practice “sign language, type text, voice in another language, or work with an interpreter,” depending on the capabilities of those she is speaking with. Highlighting the importance of technology, customized keyboards and dictation applications can vastly improve communication.
Alternative Reading Resources
Alternative reading formats assist not only people who are visually impaired but also those who may find it taxing to hold a book or turn a page. Some individuals with chemical sensitivities may react to certain chemicals found in paper or ink. All of these readers fall under the umbrella term “print impairment.” Those with a print impairment might find audiobooks helpful, while others utilize more intensive services.
The National Library Service assists individuals with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or physical disabilities that prevent them from reading or holding the printed page. Through the National Library Service, people can borrow over 100,000 titles, including a DAISY player, movies with audio description, audiobooks, and magazines, all delivered via the U.S. Postal Service.
Learning Ally is the world’s largest source of educational books on tape. Readers pay a yearly subscription fee, lend a specialty Talking Book machine, and can check out any book from the Learning Ally library or the National Library Service. When the library doesn’t have a book that you are looking for, you can ask your local librarian to add it to the catalog.
E-Text and Enlarged Print
E-text is the generalized term for any document that is read in digital form. This allows words to be enlarged, spoken aloud, or converted into other formats. Many of these other formats require specialty equipment such as the DAISY player, Kurzweil software, or braille embossers. There are challenges with this type of system. Converting the books takes considerable time, but before an office worker can convert the material, the publisher must release a copy.
Fortunately, advocates are taking steps now to ensure that eBooks remain accessible worldwide. The European Accessibility Act requires an accessible version of all eBooks to be made available as of this year. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires state and local governments to improve their digital services as of 2024, a step toward a brighter tomorrow.
Screen enlarging software is another common tool for individuals with low vision or those who require additional support for a cognitive disability. From portable options to all-in-one software, there are almost as many choices for screen magnification as there are computer models. Not only is there magnification for screens, but some hardware also includes auxiliary plugs that can be inserted into a screen, allowing users to scan printed pages, medication bottles, or newspapers.
Braille Translation for the Visually Impaired
There are many different versions of braille embossers, notetakers, and displays that enable reading for individuals who require alternative assistance. Utilizing some of these tools, the accessibility of the written word expands to more people.
Similar to an ink printer, braille embossers can be purchased for personal use at home, at the office, or for mass production. Alternatively, they require specialty heavyweight paper and braille translation software. Many braille translation services are available for individuals at home for free, such as BrailleBlaster. Sources for braille paper are also available through local organizations as well as nationwide organizations, such as the American Printing House for the Blind.
Electronic braille displays boast large refreshable displays and typically include text-to-speech functions as well for a more versatile utilization. Some models allow for connectivity to online libraries, such as Bookshare, for a wider range of available books. Braille notetakers are also a popular choice, combining tablet-like features with braille functionality.
With over 70 million Americans living with a disability, it is important to remember that, at their core, disabilities are a part of the way people experience life, such as hearing, seeing, moving, processing information, and caring for oneself. Alternative tools help people with disabilities and promote greater inclusivity in the reading and writing world simultaneously.
To read more books written by authors with disabilities, look no further than Exceptionalities in Writers: Authors With Disabilities You Need To Know.
For more disability rep, check out our Disability Rep for Romance Readers bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
