I just wanted to let everyone know that Don Johnston, a publisher of educational software and materials for students with learning disabilities, has teamed up with Bookshare.org to provide a FREE screen reader for Bookshare members. You can read more about it here: http://www.donjohnston.com/products/rol_bookshare/index.html.

Even though I'm not visually impaired (but MomInKS would say I'm hearing impaired at times), I know it can be difficult to read large amounts of text on a computer screen. Screen readers are a must if you have a visual impairment. They can be a nice alternative to reading if you aren't visually impaired. I have limited experience with the JAWS screen reader, and I found it cumbersome to use. However, I was using only a demo version, which may have affected my overall opinion of the product.

The product is called Read:OutLoud, and I know they use it at the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired in Kansas City, MO. All the TVIs that I have spoken with have wonderful things to say about Don Johnston products. So if you are considering a screen reader for your child (or yourself), you check out the free reader from Don Johnston.

eSchoolNews has an article about the Bookshare-Don Johnston partnership here: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=53411.