Greetings, law-lib participants:
A little while ago, I asked the list for information about recorded
casebooks for visually disabled _or_ learning disabled students. This
is a summary of the information I receive (as well as of information
I've scouted out while trying to assist students here at USF.)
Many thanks to: Anne McFarland, Nina Miley, Marcia Koslov, Judy L.
Swarthout, Frank Drake, Billie J. Kaufman, Betsy McKenzie, and Dan
Freehling for their help.
Standard sources for recorded materials or other resources are:
o Local groups; many cities (SF included) have organizations staffed
by volunteer readers.
o Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic, in Princeton New Jersey
(or one of their local chapters). Several people mentioned them,
and Foundation Press called to tell me that some of their texts
were available through this organization. Apparently if the
materials aren't already recorded, one needs to send them
about one semester in advance. The word also is that they can
be hard to reach by phone--which seems to me to be the case.
o Associations for people with learning disabilities.
(Several are listed in the Encyclopedia of Associations,
and we have some state and local ones in California and
San Francisco; I haven't tried to call any of them yet.)
Other helpful information included the following:
According to Nina Miley, the University of Oklahoma Law Center Library
rarely uses taped books. Instead, they are able to scan the material into
a computer which uses a voice synthesizer program to "read" the digital
text. (Boston University is also using this technology.)
The Univ. of Oklahoma also has a closed circuit TV to enlarge text for
partially sighted students, and a program that enlarges word processor text
on a 17 inch monitor.
Betsy McKenzie and Kathleen Casey at St. Louis University were kind
enough to send me a draft of an article on "Adaptive Technology and
Legal Research" that, I believe, they have submitted to Library Journal.
The article includes a very helpful bibliography of print and online
resources and major organizations.
Billie Kaufman at Nova reports that they've had some success in putting
casebooks on CD-ROM, and that Michie may be doing something in this
area.
Thanks again to everyone!
- Lee
________________________________________________
(Ms.) Lee Ryan, Senior Reference Librarian
University of San Francisco Law Library
Internet: RyanL@usfca.edu
Voice: (415) 666-2253 Fax: (415) 666-2345
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:48:59 PST