Leslie Patterson said she knew nothing about dyslexia when she first became an elementary school teacher. Now, the certified academic language therapist and licensed dyslexia teacher at Griffis Elementary School in Caddo Mills (Texas) is leading the way in using technology to help some of her dyslexic students develop a love for reading.
Using Bookshare, which, with 480,000 books is the world’s largest digital library, Patterson is helping her students access books they can read, using their eyes and ears, by listening to and seeing highlighted text.
According to experts, about 1 in 5 people are dyslexic, though diagnoses can range from mildly dyslexic to severely dyslexic. Though there is no state funding for dyslexia programs, Bookshare is free for all students across the country who have a qualified disability including dyslexia, blindness and others, thanks to a grant from the Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs.
Anyone in the world with a qualifying print disability may join Bookshare. In order to become a Bookshare® member, an expert must confirm that the learner has a print disability that severely inhibits or prevents him or her from reading traditional print materials. Learn more here.
Read the full article on eSchool News.
