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Young girl reading a teacher-created print/braille book with her hands on the braille.

Teacher-Created Resource Library!

Finding Solutions Students in today's classrooms are using digital educational materials - especially now with remote instruction, online courses and virtual...
Screenshot of NIU university map with the virtual cane focus on Holmes Student Center, Bearing 2 O'clock, distance 397 yards.

How to Create Accessible Digital Maps Using SAS Graphics Accelerator and Google Maps

This post was updated on July 3, 2020. Summary This post explains how to create non-visual digital maps that contain points of interest such as intersections...
screenshot of zoom meeting with Dr. Kapperman holding a $20 bill & Dr. Kelly identifying the bill. Text, "How do you use Zoom?"

Using Zoom Video Conferencing Platform to Provide People with Visual Impairments Instant Access to Visual Information

Zoom is becoming a leader in video conferencing worldwide and features an accessible interface for use by people who are visually impaired. Zoom can be used...
Cartoon image of hands on a computer displaying Video conference and text, "Zoom 101 Video Tutorials"

Zoom 101: Basic Steps for Using Zoom

In recent times, there has been a huge increase in the use of video conferencing software.  So many educators and other professionals have been required to...
screenshot of 8 Audible book covers and text, " Amazon's Free Books"

Amazon Children's Books and Audio Stories are Free

During COVID-19 school closures, Amazon has made their books and audio stories for children and students of all ages FREE - no subscription! Books can be...
Logos for 3 companies: Dream Vision Group, Accessibyte Online, and Epic; text, "Tech Support and Free Subscriptions"

Companies/Organizations Providing Support and Free Subscriptions during School Closure

As each state embarks on providing remote instruction to students, many companies are providing free training through video conferencing and webinars, as well...
A mouth speaking with soundwaves

Using Screen Readers in Google Classrooms

Using Screen Readers in Google Classrooms This post is related to a previous post Learning Management Systems in the Age of Pandemic. Our school decided to use...
Graduate in cap and gown with electronic devices he used to learn and graduate, phone, computer, etc.

Learning Management Systems in the Age of Pandemic

Learning Management Systems for the BVI in the Age of Pandemic With the new forced paradigm in this world of distance learning, our school, like almost every...
Screenshot of a keynote slide template with parrot and "my presentation"; additional text, "Virtual Tech Lesson" Presentations"

Tech Lesson Week #1: Presentations (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote)

This is a perfect time for students with visual impairments to learn and master new tech skills; having strong tech skills will have a significant, lasting...
Cartoon image of two teachers standing behind a student who is using a computer; text: "Tech Standards"

Tech Standards for Students with VIB: What's Happening

Students with visual impairments and blindness are successfully using technology in the classroom and it is exciting to see how technology has a positive...
Cartoon boy sitting at a desk looking at a bar chart on his computer and text, "Digital Math Part 2"

Moving Forward with Accessible Digital Math: Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, we discussed several unique tech-related skills that students with visual impairments need to fully interact with and understand math...
A to Z Assistive Technology for Low Vision. www.veroniiiica.com

A to Z of Assistive Technology for Low Vision

When I first started exploring the world of assistive technology, I found myself getting frequently overwhelmed with how many different items were available...
Reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh through the starry night and text, "'Twas the Night Before: Comprehension"

'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Teaching Comprehension

As educators, we often teach basic reading skills, such as identifying letters, words, building vocabulary and spelling. However, when was the last time you...
Active Braille, a concave 40-cell refreshable braille display with cursor router keys, a Perkin’s style keyboard with a bar keys

Active Braille

The Active Braille is a forty-cell refreshable braille display with cursor router keys, a Perkin’s style keyboard, two triple action keys, and two spacebar...
Glad I am not a turkey poem.

Screen Reader Tech Activities: Thanksgiving Lesson Plan

How do you start teaching digital literacy skills to young students who are learning technology?  Memorizing a list of commands is B-O-R-I-N-G! How about...
WebAIM logo that includes "WebAIM: web accessibility in Mind" and "Survey #8 Results"

WEbAIM Screen Reader User Survey #8 Results

WebAIM is a non-profit organization with a mission to expand the potential of the web for people with disabilities by providing the knowledge, technical skills...
Collage picture of person using computer, headphones Screenreader title and JAWS logo

Screenreader Comparisons

Screenreader Comparisons Since I have recently fielded several inquiries from parents and/or students about which screenreader to obtain/use, this review...
Photo of QBraille XL and text, "So many Braille Displays which one is right for my student?"

So Many Braille Displays, Which One is Right for My Student: Part Seven

NOTE: Please see other posts in this series including: So Many Braille Displays Part One (focusing on the Brailliant BI 40 and BI 80 models) So Many Braille...
High school student wearing glasses typing with one hand while leaning close to view a computer screen.

Preparing a Low Vision Student to Use a Screen Reader

This is the second post in the screen reader for low vision series. The first post, Screen Reader for Low Vision Students? Includes common indicators that a...
Ipad displaying Chapter 3 of A Very Wimpy Kid with two-fingers making the Read All VoiceOver gesture.

Screen Reader for Low Vision Students?

For a variety of reasons, students who have functional vision are often resistant to using a screen reader. Should these students be introduced to a screen...
Cartoon man holding a tablet & scratching his head with bubble sad, happy & neutral faces & check boxes; "Screen Reader Survey"

WebAIM Screen Reader Survey #8

Accessing the web is a critical component in today's classroom. WebAIM's goal is to help make the web more accessible to individuals with disabilities by...
Photo of Braille Beetle and text, "So Many Braille Displays, Which One is Right for My Student? Smart Beetle.

So Many Braille Displays, Which One is Right for My Student? Part Four

NOTE: Please see other posts in this series including So Many Braille Displays Part One (focusing on the Brailliant BI 40 and BI 80 models) So Many Braille...
Photo of Smiling man sitting at the help desk with text, "Sam's Story: Tech Support"

Be My Eyes: Microsoft Tech Support Story

Sam is a tech support agent at the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk, where he answers calls from customers who are blind or have low-vision calling through the...
4 photos of hands holding devices with text, "I have VI technology, now what? Finding solutions for learning how to use tech."

I Have VI Technology, Now What?

I had the pleasure of presenting at the 2019 DC/MD annual AER conference.  My presentation focused on common issues that TVIs and service providers faced when...
Photo of person's feet with slippers lounging next to table with coffee & smart phone lit up on table in front of the fireplace

Reading Efficiently with a Screen Reader: Reading by Paragraphs

Just as there are many types of books to read, there are also many reasons to read. Reading a textbook or technical article for school/work requires full...
Screenshot of Headings setting in the rotor.

Reading Efficiently with a Screen Reader: Headings

Educational content is strategicially organized and formatted into sections. This helps readers to quickly find specific things and to mentally organize the...
Keyboard with text, "All about that Base(line): Strategies on Getting your student's baseline typing speed."

All About that Base(Line): Strategies on Getting your Student's Baseline Typing Speed

NOTE: Please see these related articles on touch typing skills and resources: Starting from Scratch: Where Do I Start When Teaching My Visually Impaired...
Image of a stop watch with text, "Teaching 600 WPM: Part 4".

How to teach your students to read at 600 words per minute – Part 4

Let the student drive It is important to let your student be the person interacting with the device during practice sessions. The ability to control when...
Photo of stop watch with text, "Teaching 600 WPM: Part 3"

How to teach your students to read at 600 words per minute – Part 3

Use content that fascinates The most important criterion for choosing content that your student will use to practice reading speed is the degree to which the...
Image of a stop watch with text, "Teaching 600 WPM: Part 2".

How to teach your students to read at 600 words per minute – Part 2

Before we discuss tools, I must clarify that our goal is to increase your student’s auditory reading speed. Residual vision should not be used during this...
12 safe alternatives to the Bird Box Challenge. www.veroniiiica.com

12 Safe Alternatives to the Bird Box Challenge

In recent times, I have seen a new social media trend flooding my timeline called the Bird Box Challenge (#BirdBoxChallenge). The concept of the challenge is...
Image of a stop watch with text, "Teaching 600 WPM: Part 1".

How to teach your students to read at 600 words per minute – Part 1

This series on increasing auditory reading speed is based on a master-apprentice model. In this case, successful professionals with visual impairments like me...
Using assistive technology with Hour of Code. www.veroniiiica.com

Using Assistive Technology with Hour of Code

Today is a special day, because thousands of students from all around the world are going to be introduced to computer science for the first time with Hour of...
Image of a stop watch with text, "600 Words Per Minute".

Five reasons why your students should learn to read at a rate of 600 words per minute

My personal perspective When I was in elementary school, I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). I hated to read because of RP. I had a great deal of...
Office Lens Logo with text, "Office Lens Screen Reader Commands"

Office Lens Commands and Software Updates for Screen Readers

Office Lens converts print to accessible digital materials. Office Lens is the built-in camera available in OneNote (a Microsoft  Office 365 product) that...
Screenshot of Accelerator's options with 'Options for Screen reader' circled and text, "Accelerator Options Tutorial"

SAS Graphics Accelerator Video Tutorial #2: Options

Hey it’s Esteban, and thanks for watching my video tutorial. This second video describes how to use customize the Accelerator using the “options” menu. Enjoy...
EquatIO logo and text, "Accessible Editable math"

EquatIO

EquatIO is a math extension that makes math digital. Type, handwrite, dictate, or simply copy a printed math equation; EquatIO converts these math equations...
Headphones resting on an open text book above a Braille Edge refreshable braille display,

The Power of Not Knowing

I was introduced to Braille in elementary school when we knew I had a visual impairment that was impacting my ability to read, but we didn’t have a diagnosis....
Screenshot of Facebook thread of a Community page for TVIs with a photo of a tactile bulletin board idea that is not described..

Facebook: How to Add Image Descriptions

Facebook is a popular free social networking website where people can create profiles, share information, share photos and respond to information posted by...
Image with text, "Creating easy-to-use screen reader accessible tests. George Thompson"

Creating Easy-to-Use Screen Reader Accessible Tests

Attached are a PowerPoint show with step by step instructions and a Word template with instructions as well for creating a test that is very easy to use with a...

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