It’s Not Too Late to Submit Orders!

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We know that preparing for this school year may be the most challenging one yet. With the ever-changing plans on how school will look, we realize your students’ IMC needs are adjusting constantly.

Please know that we are always here to help whether it is last minute requests or changes in the dates you need materials to arrive. Communication is the key!

We have a wonderful group of transcribers who are always willing to help us “pull off some miracles” so don’t hesitate to contact us with any requests no matter how impossible they may seem. We might just be able to make it happen!

Please submit your students’ orders by using the Online Order Form. And as always, you may contact the IMC team directly to discuss any questions or special circumstances.

Here’s to a unique, but FANTASTIC, 20-21 school year!

Weekly Dose of Braille

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What do you do if you have more than one emphasis being used?  Let me see if I can help out with that, just follow a few of the guidelines used in this week’s Dose!

Weekly Dose: Same Text with Multiple Emphasis

For more information and to see past Weekly Dose of Braille topics check out our Weekly Dose of Braille Page.

The Weekly Dose of Braille is created by our Braille Transcriber, Denise Bean, with the help of our Instructional Materials team. It gives you a taste of braille examples that may be used in worksheets or textbook formatting. This insightful Weekly Dose of Braille brings your attention to the common use of Unified English Braille and how to implement these rules and formats used by braille transcribers and proofreaders. It is a miscellaneous mixture of tricky, sometimes challenging circumstances, that a braille transcriber may come across or question, but are neatly put into a Weekly Dose of Braille for your easy access. Provided each week is a downloadable PDF file on each topic, a brf file can also be made available for your convenience.

Touch This! Time to Talk Tactiles

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Tactiles are an essential component for providing education relating to photographs, charts, graphs, maps, and so much more found in print books today.

The Guidelines and Standards for Tactile Graphics, 2010 outlines standard provisions in Twelve Units & Nine Appendices.

Why are tactiles important?

  • They provide essential components of braille materials used in educational and professional fields.
  • Tactiles can teach a blind student in kindergarten how to count with simple shapes, teach a high school student how to navigate world maps for a Social Studies exam, and teach a college student how to design a blueprint for her/his career path

Keep Tactiles Simple

Tactile graphics have a clearer understanding when they are created in a simplistic manner. This even means omitting some things seen in print when the print serves no educational purpose to understanding the graphic.

  • Example, if the purpose is to study all fifty states of the United States from the printed maps outline, as the transcriber creating the map, I would not include mountains, rivers, cities, etc., because doing so would clutter the graphic and hinder the students purpose in studying only the states.

Tactile graphics can take years to master. The best method for learning how to prepare a tactile graphic comes from hands-on training and experience. The Instructional Materials Center staff are always here to answer your questions however small they may be. Just remember, developing these types of skills is a marathon and not a sprint. “

Coming Soon…School Begins

sarahwillefordidb IMC Information, Tips ,

As we endeavor through these increasingly changing times, we must also learn to roll with it! Like a farmer who plants his field, he is preparing for the fall harvest. That is exactly what each one of you must do!

Today, find time to reach out to the academic classroom teachers and determine your student’s needs, communication is KEY to their success. Remember, the old adage “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.”

Please submit your student’s order by using the Online Order Form

If you have any questions, please contact:

Large Print
Marcella Edmonds
515.452.1341
marcella.edmonds@blind.state.ia.us

Braille
Karen Cunningham
515.452.1339
karen.cunningham@blind.state.ia.us

Weekly Dose of Braille

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Quotation Marks come in different styles and mean different things depending on how they appear in print.  To help you our please refer to today’s Dose.  Have a wonderful week and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Weekly Dose: Quotation Marks at a Glance

For more information and to see past Weekly Dose of Braille topics check out our Weekly Dose of Braille Page.

The Weekly Dose of Braille is created by our Braille Transcriber, Denise Bean, with the help of our Instructional Materials team. It gives you a taste of braille examples that may be used in worksheets or textbook formatting. This insightful Weekly Dose of Braille brings your attention to the common use of Unified English Braille and how to implement these rules and formats used by braille transcribers and proofreaders. It is a miscellaneous mixture of tricky, sometimes challenging circumstances, that a braille transcriber may come across or question, but are neatly put into a Weekly Dose of Braille for your easy access. Provided each week is a downloadable PDF file on each topic, a brf file can also be made available for your convenience.

Summer Reading Program Report of the Week!

sarahwillefordidb Summer Reading Program ,
Image of a cat wearing a hat carrying books. Text is Imagine your story

We went deep sea diving straight into the ocean and found ourselves learning and swimming with the enormous Blue Whale! In fact, did you know that the Blue Whale is a mammal and can weigh as much as 441,000 pounds and can grow to be as big as a jet airplane! Wow, now that is amazing! We spent time on the beach while making our very own Sandcastle Sand Art with our library friend Ellie! Next, we got to meet Abigail who dazzled us with her sparkling crown and BEE QUEEN sash as she introduced us to her very own bee hive. We got BUZZING with the BEES! Did you know that bees cannot see the color red and can flap their wings 200 times per second, plus out of every 4 bites of food bees are responsible for 3 of those delicious bites?

We are so excited, in the month of September don’t miss out, we are going to make beeswax candles and lip balm with our friend Abigail. I can’t wait!!

Finally, as if this week isn’t fun enough, Friday we learned all about plants. Plants provide us with both oxygen and food, wow, who knew that! We got to make our very own CHIA pet friend. We only have one week left of our Summer Reading Program Virtual Event, but I have great news for all of you, the fun will continue as we look ahead! Stay tune to “up and coming” detail in the very near future.

Coming Next Week…

Summer Week and STEM Week Virtual Event

  • July 27- Will it Pop or Will It Not Experiment, Singing Glasses Experiment, Circle, Square or Triangle Who is the Strongest Experiment
  • July 29 – Singing Balloon Experiment, Stress Ball Frenzy
  • July 31 – Ice Cream in a Bag Activity!

IDB Read Kids with Bob White will continue through August every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00pm.  We are continuing to read the Bunnicula series by James Howe!

To see the full Summer schedule checkout the Summer Reading Program Blog Page.

You still have time to be a part of this summer sensation!  Register Today

Hope to see you soon!
Denise Bean, Youth Services Librarian

Weekly Dose of Braille

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Ditto marks are often used as a replacement of words or text that needs to be repeated, however, what is the proper format to be used when transcribing this braille symbol?

New Weekly Dose: Ditto Mark

For more information and to see past Weekly Dose of Braille topics check out our Weekly Dose of Braille Page.

The Weekly Dose of Braille is created by our Braille Transcriber, Denise Bean, with the help of our Instructional Materials team. It gives you a taste of braille examples that may be used in worksheets or textbook formatting. This insightful Weekly Dose of Braille brings your attention to the common use of Unified English Braille and how to implement these rules and formats used by braille transcribers and proofreaders. It is a miscellaneous mixture of tricky, sometimes challenging circumstances, that a braille transcriber may come across or question, but are neatly put into a Weekly Dose of Braille for your easy access. Provided each week is a downloadable PDF file on each topic, a brf file can also be made available for your convenience.

Summer Reading Program Report of the Week!

sarahwillefordidb Summer Reading Program ,
Image of a cat wearing a hat carrying books. Text is Imagine your story

We had so much fun this week traveling around the world!  We made our own mini Djembe Drum, learned about Australia and world flags.

Don’t forget to join Bob White at IDB Read Kids every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00pm as he begins a new book called, Howliday by James Howe!

Coming Next Week…

Exploring Nature Together Virtual Event!
July 20th, 22nd and 24th at 1:00pm
Are you ready to take a dive into the ocean with your librarian and listen to the sounds of the blue whale? During this virtual week you will explore the ocean, insects and last but least, the world of plants! You will become an honorary Bee hero and help save the world. This week of activity offers tremendous fun!

To see the full Summer schedule checkout the Summer Reading Program Blog Page.

You still have time to be a part of this summer sensation!  Register Today

Hope to see you soon!
Denise Bean, Youth Services Librarian

Weekly Dose of Braille

sarahwillefordidb IMC Information, Tips , ,

It has been asked a few times about how exercise material should flow when content is sometimes too long or print is questionable.  In this week’s Dose, exercise basics are put into a neat and easy to understand page.

New Weekly Dose: Exercise Material Basics

For more information and to see past Weekly Dose of Braille topics check out our Weekly Dose of Braille Page.

The Weekly Dose of Braille is created by our Braille Transcriber, Denise Bean, with the help of our Instructional Materials team. It gives you a taste of braille examples that may be used in worksheets or textbook formatting. This insightful Weekly Dose of Braille brings your attention to the common use of Unified English Braille and how to implement these rules and formats used by braille transcribers and proofreaders. It is a miscellaneous mixture of tricky, sometimes challenging circumstances, that a braille transcriber may come across or question, but are neatly put into a Weekly Dose of Braille for your easy access. Provided each week is a downloadable PDF file on each topic, a brf file can also be made available for your convenience.

Summer Reading Program Report of the Week!

sarahwillefordidb Summer Reading Program , ,

What a blast this week learning about jellyfish and sharks and making our very own Amazon Rain Stick!

Don’t forget to join Bob White at IDB Read Kids every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00pm as he begins a new book called, Howliday by James Howe!

Coming Next Week…

Let’s go on an Adventure Around the World Virtual Event!
July 13th, 15th and 17th at 1:00pm
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to eat breakfast in Australia, or better yet, make a new friend from Australia?  Pack your suitcase we are going on a trip to visit other countries.

To see the full Summer schedule checkout the Summer Reading Program Blog Page.

You still have time to be a part of this summer sensation!  Register Today

Hope to see you soon!
Denise Bean, Youth Services Librarian