5 Tips to Make Books Accessible and Meaningful

My son Liam attends a mainstream public school. He just finished Kindergarten last year, where he would get these little mini-books that his classmates were reading. I have taken some of them and modified them so that they would be accessible for Liam, as well as motivating for him. I wanted to make sure that I left the print and pictures on the books, so that his classmates could see that he was participating in the same things that they were. It is important for Liam to be included in what they were reading as well.       

5 Tips to Modify a Story for Your Child:

1. Choose a story you want to modify.  

2. Have a blank book to use.
   • I use blank chipboard books that can be found at Hobby Lobby or Michaels, but there are many different things you can use for your book that would be less expensive. 
   • I recommend having sturdy pages that aren't flimsy.

3. Create tactile pictures.
   • Decide what type of tactile pictures you want to use to match the story. 
   • You will also need to decide if the objects will be glued on, velcroed on so they can be removed  by the reader, put into bags or pockets, put into a story box, finger puppets,  etc.  

4. Add braille to the pages.
   • You will need to write the story in braille or ask someone to help with this part.  

5. Send the books back to school for your child to enjoy with his or her classmates.