Accessible Test
Art Art Digitizing/Modernizing of On the Way to Literacy Storybooks
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Braille Beads
- Braille
ArtArt Digitizing/Modernizing of On the Way to Literacy Storybooks(New) Purpose To replace deteriorating film art with digital art and slightly reduce page sizes to enable production of the books on iGEN equipment Project staff Suzette Wright, Project Leader Terri Gilmore, Graphic Designer and Co-Project Leader
The 18 storybooks in the On the Way to Literacy series were first produced in the early 1990’s using film art, then standard in the printing industry. The film art for these books has deteriorated over time and must be replaced. Most printers are reluctant to use film art, so the print tooling for the books must be recreated in digital file formats. In addition, yearly sales for the books fluctuate. In 2008, two titles sold fewer than 300 copies; others sold between 400 and 550 copies. Offset printing costs are largely determined by quantity. The per unit cost of a book rises dramatically when fewer than 400 to 500 are printed at a time. Because books are not inventoried, it may become necessary to order smaller, costlier runs. The recommendation was made by production that the books also be redesigned for iGEN production, making it possible to produce smaller runs in-house rather than send these out for offset printing. To do so, the books’ page dimensions must be made slightly smaller. As the print art is redone, serif fonts will be converted to sans serif fonts, widely accepted as more visible for low vision, large print readers. In addition, modified visual art for some pages using additional shading, colors, and some patterns will make the illustrations more visually attractive for sighted audiences. This is an objective of the product that has become more important over time as increasing numbers of consumers and focus group members have noted the importance of providing read-aloud books that will also interest sighted siblings and peers. Braille plates, tactile art and illustrations will not change. A change in binding will be considered for some books if a suitable, less expensive alternative to the current binding can be found. Standardization was specified as being of lesser importance than the ability to move production of the product in-house at a competitive price as well as retain current art for the tactile illustrations and plates for the braille text. Work during FY 2009 Meetings with production staff helped define the objectives of the modernization effort. The project leader and Technical Research staff analyzed the 18 books in the On the Way to Literacy series and grouped them according to type and nature of the modifications that were to be made. It was decided to handle modernization by group. The project leader has worked closely with the in-house graphic designer on the first two groups of books. Outside graphic designers, under the in-house designer’s supervision, have also helped to complete much of the art. Colors were chosen based on iGEN swatches, and the Low Vision Project Leader was consulted regarding all visual art modifications. The updated look of the books is appealing and does not affect the tactile illustrations used by the child. The new print art does not introduce visual elements that are key to the text. Changes are decorative and do not reduce visibility for low vision readers. The project leader has proofed the text and art; Technical Research is checking the print art to ensure it corresponds with the placement of the braille and tactile art. Work planned for FY 2010 Work on the first two groups of books will be completed and the modernized print tooling will be supplied to production. At the start of production using the new art, the project leader and others will review the output to ensure it meets expectations. Modernization of the print art for the three remaining groups of books will begin. BrailleBeads(Continued)Purpose To create inexpensive plastic braille beads for students to create bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and ankle bracelets for personal use, gifts, and to support fundraising efforts Project Staff Tristan Pierce, Project Leader Frank Hayden, Technical Research Division Manager Anita Rutledge, Design Specialist/Process Engineer Background While visiting residential schools for the blind, APH staff noticed that teachers use beading as a way to create fun, wearable art, and to develop skills such as fine motor and sorting. Research showed that the few types of braille beads available on the market were very expensive (manufactured from metals and blown glass), making them unattainable through school budgets or for the average family to purchase. Work during FY 2009 APH produced prototype beads through Rapid Reproduction. The Project Leader created sample bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Work planned for FY 2010 Prototype kits will be assembled and shipped to field testers. APH will determine if the product is cost effective to produce. BrailleAlphabetic Braille and Contracted (ABC) Braille Study(Continuing through 2010) Purpose The Alphabetic Braille and Contracted Braille (ABC) Study was conceived as a 5-year exploration of literacy environments, skills, and experiences of children who are totally blind or have light perception only. The organizing factor of the study was a comparison of students who were initially taught contracted braille with those initially taught uncontracted braille. The study also collected data on the larger issue of how the learning environment impacts literacy skill acquisition, especially in the context of braille reading. Children in the United States and Canada were enrolled. Due to assistance from the Canadian Braille Authority and the American Foundation for the Blind, the project expanded its budget to include 6 years of research (5 years of data collection). Core Team Anne Corn, Ed.D. Vanderbilt University, Principal Investigator through Summer 2007 Robert Wall Emerson, Ph.D., Western Michigan University, Statistician, Data Storage Jane Erin, Ph.D., University of Arizona at Tucson, Quantitative Research Team Leader Sharon Sacks, Ph.D., California State University Qualitative Research Team Leader Diane P. Wormsley, Ph.D., North Carolina Central University, Principal Investigator beginning Summer 2007 2006-2007 was the final year of the project. During this past year, 2008-2009, the Research Team has been conducting an analysis of data and preparing articles for dissemination of the research information. Below is the list of contributors to the project and their roles in the project. ABC Braille Cumulative Contributor List Research Team
Research Support
Research Assistants
Observers
APH Officers
APH ABC Braille Study Staff
APH Support Staff
Financial Contributors
In Kind Contributors
Test Publisher Acknowledgement We would like to thank the following for allowing APH to emboss the test instruments we used.
Background The ABC Braille Study was a 5-year study of literacy acquisition in children who are braille readers. The study explored the development of literacy skills and charted literacy experiences of children who initially learn contracted braille as well as those who initially learn uncontracted braille. While this study sought to develop guidance for teachers of students with visual impairments with regard to initial instruction in braille, it also provided the first in-depth look at how young blind children were learning to read, write, and spell. This study was the first time a consortium of eight universities, two organizations, and a special school for the blind, had joined forces to conduct research. Children in the study resided in the U.S. and Canada and attended special schools and local education agencies, as well as pre-kindergarten programs, e.g., Head Start. They were enrolled in the study in either pre-kindergarten or kindergarten and were followed through to the end of the five years, with the fourth grade being the highest grade level achieved by students in the study. Over the course of the study 45 students were enrolled. Four children were dropped from the study because they had been identified as having multiple disabilities. Three other children left the study for various reasons. Data from these children were included where it was appropriate to do so. Enrolled children resided in 12 U.S. states and one Canadian province, with children coming from a range of educational environments. Work during FY 2009 This past 2008-2009 academic year involved the consolidation of research data and analysis by the Research Team with approximately seven writing teams submitting articles on the various aspects of the study. APH hosted a small number of teleconference calls related to the research and to move the article writing along. During the course of the year, six teams completed their writing tasks and submitted articles. These six articles will be included in the special October/November issue of the JVIB, the special JVIB issue on literacy celebrating the 200th anniversary year of Louis Braille’s birth. A presentation at APH’s annual meeting this year will highlight these publications. Work planned for FY 2010 During the 2009-2010 school year, researchers will continue to work in their various writing groups. Writing teams will be pulling together the existing literature and research, and including the data from the ABC Braille Project into submissions for various journals. At the moment there are approximately four to five teams at work. Two articles are presently being finalized for submission. A presentation at Getting In Touch With Literacy will explore the research questions and answers and pose additional questions which continue to need research. The writing team functions with the assistance of APH Staff members, Eleanor Pester, Ralph Bartley, and John Aicken, and the members are as follows:
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