Creating an inclusive reading environment means providing students with multiple ways to engage with text. By offering differentiated novel formats, educators can ensure that all learners — including those with visual, auditory, or print disabilities — have equitable access to rich literary experiences. The following websites and applications will help you support diverse learners with literature circles or whole-class novel studies.
The Sora App
Sora empowers students to discover and engage with e-books and audiobooks from their school’s library. Sora allows students to personalize their reading experience to meet their individual needs. With Sora, students can:
- Change text size, font, and background color to support visual preferences.
- Adjust spacing and margins to improve readability.
- Access books on a variety of devices to accommodate mobility needs.
- Select audio books.
- Access dictionary and translation tools.
ARC-BC
BC’s Accessible Resources Collection (ARC-BC) offers books for students with perceptual disabilities including seeing, holding, or comprehending print materials. ARC BC provides books in various formats, including PDF, MP3 and Braille.
To download accessible books for your learners:
1. Create an Account: For access to ARC-BC, educators must complete a four-step online training and registration process.
2. Download Books: Once registered, educators can search for books and download the appropriate format for their students.
3. Request Books: If a novel isn’t available, educators can submit a request for it to be added to ARC BC’s collection.
Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Novel Collection: The majority of the novel sets available at the LRC include accessible versions through ARC-BC. These novels are clearly marked with an ARC-BC sticker for easy identification.
Next Steps for Educators
- Ask your Teacher-Librarian for a whole-class Sora demonstration, or for help with creating e-book/audiobook reading assignments for individual students.
- For more accessibility tools and support resources, including helpful tip sheets for educators, please visit https://tinyurl.com/inclusion71 or contact Jane Rondow, SD71 District Inclusion Teacher.
- Create an account at ARC-BC, or check in with your Learning Support Teacher to talk about connecting students with the accessible materials they need.
