Special Educational Needs resources

General Learning difficulties Autism Dyslexia Down syndrome Deafness & hearing impairment Blindness & visual impairment Links SEN useful links

General advice

Austistic Spectrum Disorders Good Practice Guidance is a newly revised resource published by the Department for Education and Skills. It seeks to raise awareness of autistic conditions among schools and councils and assist in developing provision. For more information, visit www.teachernet.gov.uk.

Barriers to Achievement - Special Educational Needs
The document sets out the Government's vision for giving young children with special needs and disabilities the opportunity to succeed. Building on the proposals for the reform of children's services in 'Every Child Matters', it sets a new agenda for improvement and action at national and local level. Reference code: 0117/2004 Full document, 0118/2004 Summary. Available from DfES Publications, PO Box 5050, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 0DJ; Tel: 0845 60 222 60; email: dfes@prolog.uk.com.

www.booktrust.org.uk/bookmark
Booktrust offers advice, information and ‘sign-posting’ on the subject of reading difficulties, learning disabilities and books relevant to different impairments or disability issues.

Cutting Edge Publications produce special needs educational resources for students and teachers. The materials can be used by all learners. They produce secondary special needs publications and special needs resources including: teaching packs that can work with individual learners, groups and classes; story versions- simplified, illustrated and easy to read versions of classic texts such as Shakespeare; and audio CDs. Contact: Cutting Edge Publications, Pill Farmhouse, Lostwithiel, Cornwall PL22 0JR Tel/Fax 01208 872337 visit www.cuttingedgepublications.com

Disability, illness and special needs: an annotated list of fiction, non-fiction and organisations. Annotated book list and guide produced in 2004 by the schools library service for Leicestershire and Leicester City. More

The Good Schools Guide: Special Educational Needs 2007, Ralph Lucas. This guide covers over 300 schools that cater well for SEN, and describes SEN conditions, from dyslexia to ADHD to Asperger's Syndrome. It includes first-hand accounts written by parents, children, teachers and professionals and is complemented by a website www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk.

Interchange 67: Raising Attainment of Pupils with Special Educational Needs summarises recent research funded by the Scottish Executive, concerning the effective use of Individualised Educational Programmes for SEN pupils. www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/education/ic67-00.asp

Schools for special needs is a guide for parents to find the right school for their child. The book explains special needs education and includes the details of more than 2,000 settings. For more information visit www.gabbitas.co.uk

Special Educational Needs: a guide for parents. Guide updated in spring 2002 by the Department for Education and Skills in line with revised SEN code of practice. It sets out a series of simple questions and answers taking parents through all the steps from assessment of a child's educational needs to statementing and beyond. It covers what you can do if you are worried that your child may be having difficulties, what if you disagree with the school, how long a statement lasts and what the special educational needs tribunal is.
Contact DfES Publications on 0845 60 222 60.

Learning difficulties

Bag Books story packs. Multi-sensory reading resources produced by Bag Books, a not-for-profit organisation concerned with children, young people and adults with profound and multiple learning difficulties. Aimed at those who are just beginning to develop an understanding and appreciation of stories, packs includes a large print storyboard, individual laminated cards and tactile artifacts related to the story. A wide range of different titles are available.
Contact: Bag Books, 60 Walham Grove, London SW6 1QR. Tel: 020 7385 4021. Email: office@bagbooks.org. Website: www.bagbooks.org.

www.booksfordisability.org.uk is an internet resource set up by Booktrust for children with reading difficulties or disabilities and their families. The site includes advice on improving reading, a database of support organisations and reviews of books.

Books Beyond Words. Books for people who find pictures easier to understand than words, dealing with real life issues. Pre-payment is required before any books can be sent. Contact: Book Sales, The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8PG. Tel: 020 7235 2351 ext. 146. Website: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/booksbeyondwords.aspx

Don Johnston Special Needs believes that all pupils can learn to read and write. Its critical intervention products include: reading intervention solutions, writing intervention software, unique word-study products that teach spelling and phonics skills and industry-standard computer access products that let pupils with physical disabilities use the computer to learn to read and write. www.donjohnston.co.uk.

Enquire (Scotland). Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning, providing independent advice and information to parents/ carers, children/ young people and the adults who support them. It is managed by Children in Scotland and funded by the Scottish Executive.
Enquire helpline: 0845 123 2303. Textphone 0131 222 2439 Email:info@enquire.org.uk

First Steps/Stepping Out. First Steps is a Western Australian programme which provides a framework for developing children's literacy and which offers a diagnostic tool and materials, including software, to help record and report on children's literacy development. Many teachers in the UK have trained as First Steps tutors. This has been built upon to develop Stepping Out, a professional development resource following many of the same learning principles. In the UK, the programme has been tailored to enhance the implementation of
the Key Stage 3 Literacy Strategy.  It consists of training courses and
publish standards in middle and secondary schools.
Contact:  Steps PDC, Unit 78, Shrivenham Hundred Business Park, Major's Road, Watchfield, SN6 8TZ.
Tel: 01793 787930. Email: admin@steps-pd.co.uk. Website: www.steps-pd.co.uk.

Gatehouse is a unique Manchester based community publisher who specialises in the publication of books for adults with reading and writing difficulties. www.gatehousebooks.org.uk.

How is it: an image vocabulary produced by the NSPCC which helps children to verbalise their concerns and responses by providing a set of images for them to use. Available for £8 (postage included) from the NSPCC Publications and Information Unit, Weston House, 42 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3NH. Other resources for communicating with disabled children and young people produced by the NSPCC and Triangle include 'Two Way Street', a video and handbook. To order see www.howitis.org.uk

Inclusion website. The Department for Education has teamed up with BECTa to create this website to provide special needs teachers and learners with access to a wide variety of inclusion / special needs educational resources. The site also provides special needs discussion groups, email notification about news and new resources, and an opportunity for visitors to recommend a resource of their own. See http://inclusion.ngfl.gov.uk.

Literacy and Life Skills. For 14-19 year olds with learning difficulties working at Level 1, published by SEN Press. The reading books are designed as introductions to key life and social skills. Contact peterclarke@senpress.co.uk. Website: www.senpress.co.uk, or call 01706 668398.

Living our Lives is a pack of books written by adults with learning difficulties plus an accompanying CD audio version.www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/disabilities_publications.

Mapwise - Accelerated learning through visible thinking, Oliver Caviglioli and Ian Harris. Information about using visual mapping in teaching and learning, a concept that can be particularly helpful for those working with SEN pupils. The book describes the DOM technique, which stands for dump, organise and map, that takes students through a process of brainstorming ideas, grouping them together and then using visual mapping to organise and structure their thoughts before writing. Cost £14.95.
Published by Network Press. Tel: 01785 225515.

Model lessons for year 6 (CDRom). A set of 25 model lessons, developed as part of a NLS pilot intervention programme in 5 LEAs, for use with year 6 booster classes in English. The lessons are available at www.standards.dfee.gov.uk/literacy or from DfEE publications on CDRom.
Contact: DfEE Publications. Tel: 0845 60 222 60. Fax: 0845 60 333 60. Email: dfee@prolog.uk.com. Quote reference DfEE 0017/2001.

National Standards for Special Education Needs. The Training and Development Agency for Schools produces information on SEN coordination in schools.
Contact: The Training and Development Agency for Schools http://www.tda.gov.uk/ on 020 7023 8000 or see:

http://www.tda.gov.uk/teachers/sen/

Our Right to Learn: A pack for people with learning difficulties and staff that work with them. Photocopiable resource pack produced by NIACE and based on the Learning Charter. It includes examples of good practice of education provision for students with learning difficulties, questions for staff and students to think about, a word bank explaining words that may be hard to understand, an action plan for staff and students, and a list of questions for managers. Cost £100 (£35 to organisations run by and for people with learning difficulties).
Contact: NIACE Publication Sales, Dept. MO, 21 de Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE. Tel: 0116 204 4200. Fax: 0116 285 4514.

Parent's guide to supporting children's learning. A guide to help parents get the best out of the Additional Support for Learning Act in Scotland. Supporting children and young people's learning: A handbook for parents when their child needs additional support. Cost £8.99.
Contact: TSO Shop. Tel: 0870 242 2345. Website: www.tsoshop.co.uk

Reading and writing for individuals with Down syndrome, Sue Buckley. Children with Down Syndrome learn to read and write in much the same way as typically developing children, making use of their good visual memory skills. This guide provides an overview of current research and practice on how children with Down Syndrome learn to read and write, providing examples of effective teaching strategies.
Contact: The Down Syndrome Educational Trust, The Sarah Duffen Centre, Belmont Street, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 1NA. Tel: 023 9282 4261. Fax: 023 9282 4265. Email: enquiries@downsnet.org. Website: http://www.downsed.org/

Reading Difficulties: a glossary of terms, Bev Mathias. Booklet that explains the most frequently used terms to described the difficulties associated with problems in learning to read. It includes an overview of the problems associated with reading, a glossary of the most commonly used terms in special needs education, and contact details for useful organisations. Cost £4.50.
Contact: National Centre for Language and Literacy, The University Of Reading,  Bulmershe Court, Earley, Reading RG6 1HY. Tel: 0118 931 8820. Website: www.ncll.org.uk.

Reading for All. A resource pack for parents and schools, produced with the support of National Year of Reading funding, that will help children and young adults with severe and profound multiple learning difficulties to make the most of stories and reading. The pack is full of ideas and practical suggestions for using stories, books, technology and libraries. All ideas in the pack were provided by parents, teachers and carers. Cost £20 (plus £2.50 p&p) for school and libraries; £10 (plus £2.50 p&p) for Mencap locations; £5 (plus £2.50 p&p) for parents.
Contact: Mencap Public Liaison Unit. Tel: 020 7696 5593.

Reading Rulers are coloured acetate strips that can be placed over a page to reduce glare and improve focus on small sections of text at a time. A packet of 10 in five different colours costs £9.99 (including p&p).
Contact: Crossbow Education. Tel: 01785 660902 www.crossboweducation.com

Sandbox Learning supplies customized materials to meet the unique goals of each child with special educational needs. For more information visit www.sandbox-learning.com

SEN Press produces simple, age-appropriate books for 14-19 year olds with learning difficulties who are at or around Level 1. The books feature situations from everyday life which can be explored further in Life Skills and Social Skills courses. For more information visit www.senpress.co.uk/

SpeakUp Self Advocacy Videos provide information and help teach life skills to people with learning disabilities who cannot read. www.speakup.org.uk/list_of_videos.htm

Special Educational Needs: a guide for parents. Guide updated in spring 2002 by the Department for Education and Skills in line with revised SEN code of practice. It sets out a series of simple questions and answers taking parents through all the steps from assessment of a child's educational needs to statementing and beyond. It covers what you can do if you are worried that your child may be having difficulties, what if you disagree with the school, how long a statement lasts and what the special educational needs tribunal is.
Contact DfES Publications on 0845 60 222 60.

Special Needs Information Press. A monthly newsletter providing information on all aspects of special education needs, including language development, self esteem, dyspraxia, dyslexia and new interventions worth considering. Offers comments on topical issues, news of useful books and resources, summaries of relevant research findings and practical guides to activities. Cost £20 per annum.
Contact: Special Needs Information Press, Spring Cottage, Bagot Street, Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire WS15 3DA. Tel: 01283 840435 fax: 01283 840 824 www.snip-newsletter.co.uk

Storytracks. An organisation that works to bring stories to people of all abilities and ages. Storytrack workshops help people with severe communications disabilities including autism, profound and multiple disabilities and language impairments. For more information visit www.storytracks.com. Call 020 8883 3416. Email info@storytracks.com

Supporting Pupils with Special Educational Needs in the Literacy Hour. DfEE-produced free guide.
Contact DfEE Publications on 0845 60 222 60. Reference: 0101/2000.

Training for Change: A pack to support adults with learning difficulties to develop the skills to become trainers. Photocopiable resource pack produced by NIACE to support adults with learning difficulties in the training that they are increasingly being required to perform, for example, to student social workers, nurses and other professionals, as well as to peers. It consists of a fully illustrated manual together with a video cassette produced by Mental Health Media, and an audio tape version of the manual. Cost £150 (£50 for organisations run by people with learning difficulties).
Contact: NIACE Publication Sales, Dept. MO, 21 de Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE. Tel: 0116 204 4200. Fax: 0116 285 4514.

Ulverscroft Large Print Books. A specialist large print publisher of children's (12-18 years) and adult books. The print size is font 16, and special anti-glare paper and dense black ink is used to facilitate reading for people with sight problems or reading difficulties.
Contact Wendy Reynolds, Ulverscroft Large Print Books, The Green, Bradgate Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7FU. Tel: 0116 236 4325. Fax: 0116 234 205. Email: sales@ulverscroft.co.uk. Website: www.ulverscroft.co.uk

Or search for books online on literacy and learning difficulties at Amazon.co.uk.

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Autism

Books beyond Words. Published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists these are picture books with supporting text on health issues, emotions, lifestyle and the law.
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/booksbeyondwords.aspx

Childen, youth and adults with Aspergers, ed. Kevin P Stoddard, Jessica Kingsley publishers. For more information visit www.jkp.com/catalogue.

Ibrahim - Where in the Spectrum Does He Belong? This book highlights the struggles of a parent dealing with a child with severe learning difficulties within the Asian community. It is written from a mother’s perspective and the aim is to give hope to those struggling under similar circumstances. Published by Writersworld Ltd. Available from The National Autistic Society (UK) and bookshops. ISBN 1-904181-35-X.

Dyslexia

A framework for understanding dyslexia visit www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/understandingdyslexia or contact jwoodlock@LSDA.org.uk for more information.

Achieving dyslexia friendly schools. A practical advice pack for schools. Easy to read and practical, it includes information on being dyslexic, finding out more, how to identify dyslexia, forging a partnership with parents, tips for secondary school teachers, planning a dyslexia friendly school and how to promote dyslexia friendly schools. Cost £5.
Contact: British Dyslexia Association, Unit 8, Bracknell Beeches, Old Bracknell Lane, Bracknell RG12 7BW. Tel: 0845 251 9003. Website: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk.

Adult Dyslexia: A guide for learndirect tutors and support staff By the Adult Dyslexia Organisation, Edited by John S. Lawton and Louise Davies. For more information visit: www.adult-dyslexia.org

Barrington Stoke. Fiction for reluctant, struggling and dyslexic readers. A short booklet Can't Read or Won't Read is available free in some bookshops or as part of a free information pack aimed at parents/carers of children aged 8-12, which also contains: a poster, a bookmark, 'excellent reading' stickers, a recommended reading list for those with a reading age of 8+ and a Barrington Stoke catalogue. To receive the pack send an A4 SAE to Barrington Stoke, 18 Walker Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7LP. Alternatively call 0131 225 4113 or visit www.barringtonstoke.co.uk

DIY readers' support pack for parents. Developed by the Dyslexia Institute as part of a three-year research programme on methods of supporting children who have literacy difficulties. It provides step-by-step guidance, including both a video and written instructions, to help parents to build on the activities in the pack. It aims to support both early reading skills and the wider reading experience. Cost £39.99 (plus £5 postage and handing). Order online at www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk.
Contact: The Dyslexia Institute, Park House, Wick Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HH. Tel: 01784 222300. Website: www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk.

Dyslexia and Drama by Helen Eadon, helps teachers to ensure dyslexic students get the most from drama inside and outside the classroom. For more information contact David Fulton Publishers 020 8996 3610 email mail@fultonpublishers.co.uk

Dyslexia and ICT - Building on success. A guidebook with advice and ideas on how to make the best use of ICT. Includes a guide to choosing software that can be used to help assessment for dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Cost £6.50 plus p&p. Contact: BECTa Millburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry CV4 7JJ. Tel: 02476 416 994. Visit www.becta.org.uk

Dyslexia and other learning difficulties: a parent's guide, by Maria Chivers. This guide, written by the founder of the Swindon Dyslexia Centre, takes you step-by-step through diagnosis, treatment, education and beyond. Price £8.99. Available from Forward Press, visit www.forwardpress.co.uk or call 01733 898105 for more information.

Dyslexia in the Workplace, Diana Bartlett & Sylvia Moody. Book written both for dyslexic adults and those concerned with helping them. It covers the nature of dyslexic difficulties and their effects, both practical and emotional, and offers advice to employers on how to help dyslexic staff, including reference to the Disability Discrimination Act. Dyspraxic difficulties are also discussed. Cost £22.50. ISBN 1 86156 172 5.
Contact: Whurr Publishers, 19b Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN. Tel: 020 7359 5979. Fax: 020 7226 5290. Email: info@whurr.co.uk.

Dyslexia, Literacy and Psychology Assessment. Report from the British Psychological Society that identifies the link between acquiring sound symbol relationships and achieving success in reading. It suggests that the literacy hour has the potential to provide additional opportunities for schools to identify those pupils with dyslexic difficulties. Cost £12. Order online at http://www.bps.org.uk or contact: Division of Child Education and Child Psychology, British Psychological Society. Tel: 0116 254 9568.

Dyslexia Teacher is a structured, multi-sensory phonics, rule-based programme that teaches reading and spelling. Although it is primarily for dyslexic people, sections of it can be used by classroom teachers to teach specific rules and sounds to groups of children of all abilities.
When complete, the programme will consist of a series of 5 CD Roms. Each CD will contain 22 individual lessons and will provide a strong foundation for literacy skills and a structured progression from the easy to the more complex in an easy-to-follow format. The first 2 CDs are available for purchase now at a cost of GB £80 each. To request a free sample CD or for purchase instructions of the complete CD e-mail: enquiries@dyslexiateacher.net or visit www.dyslexiateacher.net

How to Detect & Manage Dyslexia by Philomena Ott, Heinemann 01865 888020

Jokes, jokes, jokes and more jokes (phonics in context for group work). Available from Perpetuity Press. Order online at www.perpetuitypress.com.

Key 4 Learning - specialists in the area of cognitive processing differences in the workplace. We work with individuals through mentoring, coaching and advocacy., and with organisations through workplace assessment, training and education and provision of information. The people they work with are typically diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD/ADHD, Asperger's syndrome or similar effects following illness or injury. www.key4learning.com.

Language and Literacy: Joining Together. Training course jointly developed by the British Dyslexia Association, speech and language impairment charity AFASIC and University College London. The training, the culmination of a three-year project funded by GlaxoSmithKline, is aimed at everyone who works with very young children. It will be delivered cascade style by a regional network of early years coordinators and speech and language therapists. Cost £175 plus VAT.
Contact: British Dyslexia Association, Unit 8, Bracknell Beeches, Old Bracknell Lane, Bracknell RG12 7BW. Tel: 0845 251 9003. Website: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk.

Lexia. Multi-sensory software with English voices, teachers can use to take students through a developmental path for both reading and spelling at their own pace. www.readingsoftware.com.

The Literacy Clinic, Newcastle University. This private clinic is offering opportunities for a small number of children to be assessed and offered intensive therapy aimed at developing and extending their existing skill base. The primary focus of the clinic is to enhance literacy skills. If you are interested please contact Carol Moxam for professional queries on 0191 222 5890 or for an information leaflet Allison Reid on 0191 222 7385

Making the curriculum work for learners with dyslexia. This guide, the first in a Basic Skills Agency series called 'Making the curriculum work', details how the Adult Literacy Core Curriculum can work for learners with dyslexia. Chapters include information on how people with dyslexia learn, how the curriculum does and does not work for them, developing learning programmes, and word, sentence and text level skills. Cost £4.50 (plus p&p).
Contact Basic Skills Agency Publications on 0870 600 2400 or visit www.basic-skills.co.uk.

Memory skills leaflet. Leaflet aimed at dyslexic adults, devised by West Cumbria Dyslexia Association secretary Christine Miller to pull together what she feels are the most useful strategies for the dyslexic adult.
For more information contact Christine Miller on 01946 592768.

Multilingualism and dyslexia. The British Dyslexia Association has produced a booklet of abstracts taken from their 'Multilingualism and Dyslexia' conference held in June 1999. Cost £5.
Contact: British Dyslexia Association, Unit 8, Bracknell Beeches, Old Bracknell Lane, Bracknell RG12 7BW. Tel: 0845 251 9003. Website: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk.

Multilingualism, Literacy and Dyslexia - A Challenge for Educators. A useful reference book on assessment and support for bilingual learners and those needing to acquire a foreign language. Often dyslexic bilingual learners are not identified as their principle difficulty is seen as a bilingual one, yet if dyslexic, they will require a different type of support.
Published by David Fulton Publishers in association with the British Dyslexia Association. Freecall 0500 618052.

Posters. The National Literacy Association has produced a series of posters featuring famous dyslexics including Benjamin Zephaniah, Steven Redgrave, Eddie Izzard, Brian Conley, Albert Einstein and Zoe Wanamaker. They are available individually or as a set. The posters are free although a charge will be made to cover postage, depending on how many are ordered.
Contact: National Literacy Association, First floor, Leonard House, 321 Bradford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 6ET. Tel: 0121 622 5143. Email: email@nla.org.uk. Website: www.nla.org.uk.

The Raviv Learning Society is a not-for-profit organisation established to promote new approaches to learning, and build on the latest studies in neuro-cognitive science to study learning development. A team from Israel has spent over 5 years pioneering this program. This method is now available in the UK. Please visit our web site www.thelearningsociety.com.

Reading Rulers are coloured acetate strips that can be placed over a page to reduce glare and improve focus on small sections of text at a time. A packet of 10 in five different colours costs £9.99 (including p&p).
Contact: Crossbow Education. Tel: 01785 660902 www.crossboweducation.com.

ReadIt is a series from Inclusive Technology that provides full or simplified versions of stories. There are animated stories for young children, including those in the Foundation Stage. Each story has opportunities for interaction and include a CD-Rom and full-colour illustrated book. Children can choose to have all the text read aloud or just individual words. Children can also choose the colours for words, background and highlighting. Website: www.inclusive.co.uk

Register of schools that help dyslexic children. CReSTeD (the Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils), with the support of the British Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Institute, has produced this guide to help parents to choose schools for dyslexic children. Schools are listed by area and by category according to the level of support available. The guide is published twice a year and is available free of charge (please send an A5 SAE). A regularly updated version is also available on the CReSTeD website at www.crested.org.uk.
Contact: CReSTeD, Greygarth, Littleworth, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5BT. Tel: 01242 602689.

Some Hints for Teachers and Helping the Young Child. Two booklets produced by the Dyslexia Institute to help schools to address the needs of pupils with dyslexia. Cost £1 each (plus p&p).
Contact: Dyslexia Institute, Park House, Wick Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HH. Tel: 01784 222300. Website: www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk.

The Dyslexia Handbook. Published by the British Dyslexia Association, revised and updated for 2004. It includes current information on research, policy and practice; personal testimonies from parents and adults with dyslexia; and checklists for pre-school, primary and secondary children and adults. Cost £10 (plus p&p). Contact REM on 01458 254750.

The Dyslexic Adult in a Non-dyslexic World, by Ellen Morgan and Cynthia Klein. Book written for teachers, employers, careers advisers, counsellors and others who support, work with or live with dyslexic adults. It uses case studies and adult 'voices' to explore a range of issues affecting dyslexic adults, emphasisingthe cognitive style of dyslexic people and its effects on their personal, academic and working lives.
Published by Whurr Publishers. Contact: 020 7359 5979.

Stareway to spelling, Keda Cowling (author of Toe By Toe - see below) and Kelsy Cowling, written to meet the needs of children with severe spelling difficulties. Available from Keda publications: 01274 588278; info@kedapublications.co.uk

Stride Ahead, Keda Cowling (author of Toe By Toe - see below) and Frank Cowling, written to meet the needs of children can read but have difficulty in understanding what they are reading. Available from Keda publications: 01274 588278; info@kedapublications.co.uk

TechDis toolbar is a free download for the desktop that offers both high-contrast and pale-colour schemes, serif and non-serif fonts. It also has a zoom function to magnify the page. Download from www.techdis.ac.uk

Toe by Toe. A diagnostic system for the teaching of reading, developed by retired primary school teacher Keda Cowling. The scheme was first published as a book in 1994, and has been used with primary and secondary school pupils, as well as adults, including men in prisons. Cost: Single Copy £27; Standard Pack of 6 £127; Bulk Pack of 30 £535 (See recommendations below or an article on the use of Toe by Toe in two different contexts.)
Contact: Toe by Toe, 8 Green Road, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire BD17 5HL. Tel: 01274 598807. Web: www.toebytoe.co.uk

Touch-type, Read and Spell. Computer-aided course for students with spelling, reading or writing difficulties. Courses run at independent centres or at licensed schools and colleges.
Call 020 8464 1330 for details of your nearest centre.

Training videos for adult dyslexics. Series of videos produced by the London Language and Literacy Unit to support adult dyslexics. Titles include 'On being dyslexic', 'Spelling to learn' and 'Identifying dyslexia'. Trainers' notes are included. Cost £37.50 (£27.50 to London-based organisations).
Contact: London Language and Literacy Unit, South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA. Tel: 020 7815 6290.

Transferring to Secondary School. Guide for parents of dyslexics written by teachers / parents of dyslexics drawing on their own experiences. Cost £1.
Contact: Arabella Hewes, 44 Hardwick Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 6NH.

Waterstone's Guide to Books for Young Dyslexic Readers. This guide can be downloaded for free from the Dyslexia Institute's website at www.dyslexia-inst.org.uk/water_guide.htm.

Whurr Publishers. Whurr produces a wide range of books for dyslexics, practitioners and parents.
Contact: Whurr Publishers, 19b Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN. Tel: 020 7359 5979. Fax: 020 7226 5290. Email: info@whurr.co.uk. Website: www.whurr.co.uk.

Widgit Symbols Inclusion Project. Produces a wide-range of software solutions for special needs including downloadble symbol-based activities that are visual and encourage active participation. They also have advice and help for teachers planning lessons. Website: www.widgit.com/index.htm.

Or search for books online on dyslexia at Amazon.co.uk.

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Down's syndrome: your questions answered. Comprehensive information provided by the Down's Syndrome Association, covering everything from what the syndrome is, attitudes in society, health, growth and development, education and useful addresses.
Visit www.downs-syndrome.org.uk.

Down syndrome news and update. Quarterly magazine of the Down Syndrome Educational Trust which offers comprehensive, practical and accessible information and resources for families and professionals caring for individuals with Down's syndrome.
Contact: The Down Syndrome Educational Trust, The Sarah Duffen Centre, Belmont Street, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 1NA. Tel: 023 9282 4261. Fax: 023 9282 4265. Website: http://www.downsed.org/

Education support pack for schools. Produced by the Down's Syndrome Association, this pack is aimed at primary and secondary schools that include, or are thinking of including, children with Down's syndrome. It is designed for teachers with little or no specialist knowledge of this area and covers subjects such as dealing with challenging behaviour, methods for improving literacy and numeracy, and effective strategies for inclusion. The Down's Syndrome Association is distributing the pack free to all local authorities in the UK. For others, it costs £15 or can be downloaded free of charge from www.downs-syndrome.org.uk.
Contact the Down's Syndrome Association on 020 8682 4001.

People with Down's syndrome - your questions answered, booklet published by the Down's Syndrome Association explaining what causes the condition, its diagnosis and how a child's development is affected, and what can be done to help. uses simple language and a clear typeface, making it accessible for people with Down's syndrome as well as their families. Costs £2.50.
Contact: Sarah Waights at the Down's Syndrome Association, tel: 0208 682 4001.

Reading and writing for individuals with Down syndrome, Sue Buckley. Children with Down's syndrome learn to read and write in much the same way as typically developing children, making use of their good visual memory skills. This guide - one of a series focusing on specific developmental, health and social issues - provides an overview of current research and practice on how children with Down's syndrome learn to read and write, providing examples of effective teaching strategies.
Contact: The Down Syndrome Educational Trust, The Sarah Duffen Centre, Belmont Street, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 1NA. Tel: 023 9282 4261. Fax: 023 9282 4265.

Website: http://www.downsed.org/
 

Talk To Your Baby - for parents and carers of children who are deaf

Articles on teaching literacy to deaf adults are available in the 'expert column' on the BBC Skillswise website. Visit www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/tutors/expertcolumn/

Chelltune offers a range of practical products using British Sign Language (BSL) or based on BSL to help parents and babies/young children sign together. The range of products includes books, audio books, DVDs, flashcards, posters, ebooks and reward charts. Visit www.chelltune.co.uk/

Effective early intervention for deaf children 0-5 and their families. RNID guide for teachers of the deaf and early years specialists who work with deaf babies/young children and their families. It has information on the aim early intervention with young deaf children, giving information to parents and carers, offering support, providing practical guidance, approaches to communication, and assessment and monitoring. It also includes photocopiable materials that practitioners can use in their work with parents and carers. Cost £5.99.
Contact: RNID, 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL. Tel: 0808 808 0123. Email: informationline@rnid.org.uk.

Forest Books produces a "deaf and deafness issues" catalogue, which caters for sign language learners, teachers, parents, interpreters and students. Visit www.forestbooks.com or call 01594 833858 for more information.

Cued Speech Association UK has produced a hearing impairement and literacy information sheet. This highlights the importance of literacy to the hearing impaired, illustrated with case studies and advice for teachers and parents.
Download the information sheet.

National Deaf Children's Society
NDCS's mission is to remove the barriers to the achievement of deaf children around the world. Contains a family support section. Website: www.ndcs.org.uk/ Helpline: 0808 800 8880

Northern Lights and Falling into Fear, by Anne College. These two children's books have deaf children as their central characters. Price £4.99. For more information email annecolledge@tiscali.co.uk.

Promoting literacy in deaf pupils. RNID guide bringing together current knowledge, studies and teaching practice to support the effective development of literacy in deaf pupils. It is aimed at both teachers whose core work is with deaf children and mainstream teachers with deaf children in their classses. Cost £5.99.
Contact: RNID, 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL. Tel: 0808 808 0123. Email: informationline@rnid.org.uk.

Regional support groups. For the deaf and their families and carers.
Contact: Royal National Institute for Deaf People, 19-23 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8SL. Tel: 020 7296 8000. Text: 0171 296 8001. Helpline: 0870 605 0123.

Sign Language Video Translations. A range of 26 Sign Language video translations of books suitable for children of all ages, produced by the Royal School for the Deaf in Derbyshire. For use in schools as well as in a family setting. Cost around £10 each.
Contact: Chase Video Productions. Tel: 01332 370899.

Signed Stories. A website aiming to help improve the literacy of deaf children nationwide by enabling them to share in the joy of storytelling. It is also designed to provide useful advice and guidance for the parents, carers and teachers of deaf children; and for the deaf parents of hearing children.

The site features hundreds of children’s stories - accessible in British Sign Language and in text, pictures and sound. It is updated regularly. Contact www.signedstories.com

Teaching literacy skills to deaf adults. A handbook of information, advice and worksheets for tutors with deaf adults in their classes. Published by RNID, £9.99.
Contact: www.rnid.org.uk.

The Signalong Group has released a signing companion manual to accompany the Oxford Reading Tree Stages 1 and 1+. Signalong is a sign-supported communication system adapted from British Sign Language to assist children and adults with verbal communication difficulties. Review copies of the Signalong Companion to the Oxford Reading Tree are available on request, and it can be purchased from the charity at £18.50 + £1.75 p&p. Visit www.signalong.org.uk or call 0870 7743752.

Or search for books online on deafness and literacy at Amazon.co.uk.

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Blindness and visual impairment

A touch more. The National Library for the Blind provides resources and guidance on reader development for visually impaired people. For more information visit www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/PublicWebsite/public_libinfoser.hcsp 

AccessBook. A range of titles available from the RNIB in electronic format. They are designed for use on a personal computer equipped with a voice synthesis system and screen reader, with DOS or DOS sessions under Windows. Titles range from classics to comedy to modern fiction. Cost £16.50 each. Free samples are available to download from www.rnib.org.uk
Contact: RNIB Customer Services, PO Box 173, Peterborough PE2 6WS. Tel: 0845 702 3153.

BBC Education - Betsie.  The BBC Education site also includes Betsie, the software system that enables blind and partially sighted people to access website information. See www.bbc.co.uk/education/betsie/

Booktouch is a development of Bookstart for blind and partially sighted children aged 0-4 years, launched in April 2003. The tailor-made packs have been produced working with the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) and the charity ClearVision. The packs consist of a Bookstart canvas bag, a guidance leaflet for parents about sharing books with blind or partially sighted children, a list of recommended books and a helpful list of support agencies. The two books in the pack are specially chosen to suit each child from a range of touch and feel books and Braille books.
Contact: Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ. Tel: 020 8516 2977. Website: www.booktrust.org.uk.

Braille, Moon and large print reading materials.
Contact: National Library for the Blind, Cromwell Road, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2SG. Tel: 0161 494 0217.

Braille, Moon and large print reading materials for children.  Clearvision is a national postal lending library of books for young visually impaired children.
Contact: Clearvision, Linden Lodge School, 61 Princes Way, London SW19 6JB. Tel: 020 8789 9575.

Calibre Cassette Library. National postal lending library of books on cassette with over 6000 titles to choose from.
Contact: Calibre Cassette Library, New Road, Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP22 5XQ. Tel: 01296 432339. Website: www.calibre.org.uk.

Carry on Reading. A guide to how those with failing eyesight or other disabilities may get access to reading materials in alternative formats, produced in partnership by Calibre Cassette Library, National Library for the Blind and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. It includes details of where to get books, newpapers and magazines in large print or on spoken word cassettes.
Contact: RNIB Customer Services. Tel: 0345 7023153. Quote reference number PR11046.

ClearVision is a national postal lending library of over 12,000 mainstream children's picture books with the text added in braille (or Moon). Books are intended for visually-impaired children to share with sighted friends and family - or for braille-reading adults to share with sighted children, grandchildren, etc. Books cover all ages ranges, from babies and toddlers to key stage 1 and newly-fluent readers.
Contact: ClearVision, Linden Lodge School, 61 Princes Way, London SW19 6JB. Tel: 020 8789 9575. Email: info@clearvisionproject.org. Website: www.clearvisionproject.org

Good Design is a wealth of information from the RNIB on making publications, print, websites, and products more accessible for people with visual impairments. Website: www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/code/public_rnib003460.hcsp

Library Services for Visually Impaired People: a Manual of Best Practice. Originally published by Resource in October 2000, this manual was revised and updated in June 2002 to ensure that it is up-to-date and continues to be best practice. The updated edition is available at http://bpm.nlb-online.org.

Literacy for children with visual impairment. The RNIB website provides information about how to deliver the mainstream curriculum to children with visual impairment. See http://www.rnib.org.uk

Listen 'Ear. A tape of reading recommendations and favourite extracts from housebound visually impaired and older library members, produced by the North West Book Promotion Partnership as a result of work with a radio journalist during a National Year of Reading funded project. It is intended for use by libraries, hospitals and social services in their reader development work with older and visually impaired clients. Cost £15 for 10 cassettes.
Contact Jane Evans on 0161 483 6437 for further information.

Listen to This! catalogue. A guide to over 300 titles available on cassette for children and young people aged 7-15, for whom reading is difficult. A useful educational aid for children with dyslexia, visual impairments or other reading difficulties. An over 15s section is also available for young people and adults. Produced by Listening Books, the postal lending library of stories on cassettes. Membership £50 per annum.
Contact: Listening Books, 12 Lant Street, London SE1 1QH. Tel: 020 7407 9417. Website: www.listening-books.org.uk.

My Home Library Former Children's Laureate Anne Fine launched a unique project on World Book Day 2002 (14 March) to give blind children their own Braille books and special 'feelie' bookmarks. The project chose twelve picture books that were most popular with young blind readers.Website www.myhomelibrary.org

Revealweb is a national database of over 100,000 titles available in formats accessible to the blind and partially sighted. It was developed in partnership by the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the National Library for the Blind. Until its launch in September 2003, visually impaired people had to check a variety of catalogues to se if a book was available in an alternative format. Reveawebl will be largely funded by Resource (the council for museums, archives and libraries) until 2006. Visit http://librarycatalogue.rnib.org.uk/

School issues for visually impaired parents and education professionals. Series of three guides available in large print, Braille, audio and Daisy CD, that provides information on how to overcome barriers to visually impaired parents’ involvement in their children’s education. The guides cover choosing and applying for schools; supporting children at school; and education resources and contacts. They are available free to disabled parents but cost £6 each to professionals and organisations.
Contact: Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International, Unit F9, 89-93 Fonthill Road, London N4 3JH. Tel: 0800 018 4730. Text: 0800 018 9949. Email: info@dppi.org.uk Website: www.dppi.org.uk.

Sharing books with your baby or toddler. Booklet produced by Bookstart as part of its Booktouch project with blind or partially sighted children. It contains general advice and practical ideas about enjoying reading with a blind or partially sighted child.
Contact: Bookstart, Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ. Tel: 020 8516 2995. Website: www.bookstart.co.uk.

Tactile books. Reading resources for young visually impaired children who will go on to learn Braille, produced and trialled by ClearVision, a national postal lending library of children's books in print and Braille, and manufactured by the RNIB. Each of the two titles available contains a simple story in bold print and each page contains a bold illustration, a key word from the text in large print and Braille, and a robust thermoform of an everyday object featured in the story. Cost £9.99 each.
Contact: RNIB Order Line. Tel: 0845 702 3153.

Talking Book Service. The RNIB Talking Book Library caters for all ages and includes all genres - from romances to westerns, mysteries and biographies - and some titles are available in Asian languages and Welsh. The service includes free loan of a talking book player and membership is open to anyone in the UK meeting certain sight specifications. There is an annual membership charge but this can normally be paid by the subscriber's local authority.
Contact: RNIB Talking Book Service, Mount Pleasant, Wembley HA0 1RR. Tel: 020 8903 6666.

The Talking Newspaper Association of the UK (TNAUK) is the UK's leading charity providing national and local newspapers and magazines on audio CD, audio tape, computer disk, e-mail, internet download and CD-ROM for visually impaired and disabled people who find reading a strain. www.tnauk.org.uk.

Talking Tactiles. System developed by the Royal National College for the Blind to merge sound and graphic files to create tactile diagrams, maps and visual graphics that talk when operated by a touch-sensitive device connected to a standard computer. For more information visit www.rncb.ac.uk.

Ways of reading: finding books for blind and partially-sighted children. Leaflet produced as part of a cooperative venture between Calibre Cassette Library, Clearvision, National Library for the Blind and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. It provides guidance on the various ways of obtaining reading material for blind children, whether for pleasure, information or school work. Funding from the Department for Education and Skills means it is available free, in print, Braille or on tape.
Contact the RNIB on 0845 702 3153.


Which book. The National Library for the Blind's Whichbook is an online browsing tool that provides a way for blind and visually impaired people to search for new books and widen their reading choices. Visit www.nlb-online.org.

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