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Ideas for making stories more accessible
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No project looking at stories that include disabled children can avoid the issue of alternative formats for producing books. Although the focus of the project is not accessible formats it is still important to summarise some of the current methods available to include all children.
All children will benefit from improved access to books. Some of the ideas below are particularly useful as they also make the stories more accessible to families from minority ethnic communities.
If stories are made available in different formats it can also mean that grouping the resources in one space entitled “special needs” is not necessary. Stories can be made casually available with the minimum of direction or comment making the “book corner” inclusive to all children.
Some of the different formats that can increase access are discussed below – this is not a comprehensive list but we hope that it will serve to inspire the book world and people working with young children to consider how to put more children “in the picture”.
You can also find more information on accessible formats here.
For many children with little or no vision audio formats are the most commonly used media for providing accessible information. As well as being used by visually impaired people audio formats can also be used by anyone with difficulty reading the printed word e.g. people who have dyslexia or who have trouble holding books and turning pages.
One way to create audio tapes is to use a professional transcription service – you can find out more information here.
Other audio formats
The RNIB Talking Book Service has developed a new technology called “Daisy”. It offers accessible digital talking books for children and adults. Daisy - Digital Accessible Information System - offers a worldwide standard for reading and producing books. The technology allows the reader to have the same access to books as the print reader; you can use bookmarks, pause a book and jump easily from chapter to chapter. For more information and a list of titles click here.
Braille is a system of raised dots which people can read with their fingers. It is often assumed that people with a severe visual impairment use Braille; there are 13,000 blind and partially sighted people who read Braille in the UK.
If you have the right software Braille can be produced "in house"; however it is more common to use a transcription agency.
The RNIB produce a pack "See It Right" which discusses how to produce Braille. More information is available here.
Moon is a system of reading and writing in which tactile symbols based on lines and curves are used to represent letters, numbers and punctuation marks. Moon is considered easier than the more complex Braille system. Very few people read Moon; however some children's books are available in this format.
A tactile book is similar to a regular print book but the images are designed to be touched rather than looked at and are especially good for visually impaired children.
All children like novelty books - but to children with little or no sight they are invaluable. Shapes and textures, smells and sound buttons on the page make all the difference for a child unable to see the printed pictures.
Clearvision's initiative the Tactile Book Advancement Group [TBAG] offers advice and information about producing, using and creating tactile books - click here to visit their website.
The RNIB also produce guidelines for making tactile books.*
The Living Paintings Trust is a national charity that designs and manufactures touch and sound packs. They have produced a number of tactile books for children from popular illustrated children's books with the main characters translated into raised images which are brightly coloured for the benefit of children with partial sight. These books also contain Braille text on clear plastic pages allowing the book to be shared with sighted readers. Click here to read more.
Computer/Switch accessible stories
Some stories have been adapted for use on the computer for children who have motor impairments that prevent them from using a mouse. They can access the stories by using a simple switch.
The switches are buttons that connect to the computer and because they are easy to press they are good for children with motor impairments. More than one switch can be connected to a computer via a switch box allowing one or more child to take part in the fun.
Visit our image bank to see an illustration of a group of children sharing a story through switch technology.
One of Scope's schools, Meldreth Manor near Cambridge, has developed comprehensive information about creating switch accessible stories - click here to read more.
The BBC children's website - CBeebies - has modified several games and stories for children using switches. For more information visit their website.
There are many websites offering information, advice and an array of switch accessible programmes and products.
Multi sensory stories allow the child to enjoy a story by using a range of exciting materials to illustrate existing books. The stories are told interactively by using such mediums as touch, sound, smell, sight and motion.
You can see examples of multi sensory stories on the Bag Books website. An alternative to this would be Story Sacks.
This link will take you to some writer's guidelines for developing a multi sensory pack.
This type of interactive story is relatively simple to produce yourself given the time and resources.
In any area containing books for children it is good to have a selection that show signs and symbols.
There are many different signing systems including British Sign Language [BSL], Makaton, Widgit, PCS, Signalong, Bliss and Sign Supported English [SSE]. You can find out more about each system by visiting their websites.
The National Deaf Children's Society has a comprehensive list of methods to communicate with deaf children with additional needs on their website. Click here to visit that section of the website.
The National Autistic Society provides information about the use of signs, symbols and pictures on their website.
Click here to download a reading and symbols advice pack produced by the CALL Centre.
You can see a number of BSL signs by visiting this website which is also a good resource for children to learn BSL as much of it is animated and interactive.
A number of books are available with signs in the text - some of these are listed on the Wordpool website. You can also get advice from the RNID and the National Deaf Children's Society.
Child's Play International have produced a series of signing board books aimed at very young hearing and deaf children.
Signalong is based on BSL, using unaltered BSL signs wherever possible. The difference with Signalong manuals and other sources of signs, apart from a much wider range, is the way they are presented. Click here to visit their website and also see our downloadable colouring picture in the children's area
The Widgit Literacy Symbols are designed for literacy and learning and follow clear design rules for independent learning. The Picture Communicate Symbols [PCS] from Mayer-Johnson are used in AAC systems to support communication. Both are available here.
For some children it can be more difficult to physically access books. This could be because of the size of the book, difficulty turning pages or the size of the print.
It is possible to loan or buy large format editions of story books. The books can be as large as 45cm x 37cm with the print size ranging from 1.5cm to 0.5cm in others.
Board books may be easier for a child to turn the pages or a simple adaptation might help - some ideas can be found in Scope's Playtalks Pack, particularly in the choosing and adapting toys section. You can download this pack here.
Good standards of print legibility help all readers but these standards are particularly important to those with visual impairment. Large print does not solely refer to the size of the text itself; the contrast, type face, paper weight and print quality impact on the accessibility of the book.
You can download Clear Print Guidelines, a document produced by the RNIB here.
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