Product Description
The first reference book written for the sight-impaired student and those who serve their needs, A Field Guide for the Sight-Impaired Reader explains how to locate, obtain, and integrate all forms of aid to construct a world of reading equal to that of the fully sighted reader. It profiles the major blind service organizations; explores specialized formats such as Braille, large print, and electronic texts; and shows what technology readers require and where to find it. It provides comprehensive lists of audio and large print publishers, a state-by-state listing of resource agencies for the blind, and valuable internet resources to assist students, teachers, and librarians in obtaining the texts they need to succeed in both academic and pleasure reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

NOT Another �how to live with a disability� Book . . .
I picked up this book for the first time a few nights ago and was immediately hooked.As a legally blind consumer and as Director of Rehabilitation Services at an agency whose mission is to empower blind and visually impaired individuals, I wasimmediately moved by the significance of Mr. Leibs' work.I read late into the night, and my last thought before drifting off to sleep that night was that I wished that this book had been around 30 years ago -- it would most certainly have saved me and a lot of others who live with severe vision impairment or blindness a whole lot of struggle and grief!

This book is the only of its kind I've encountered.The information, both concisely and engagingly presented, opens a breathtaking vista of literature and learning to the lives of the visually impaired in providing guidance to independent access of the printed word!

This book is NOT another "how to live with a disability" book.It focuses on a very important aspect of life, the ABILITY to read, to INDEPENDENTLY access the written word.Leibs has put together an extensive listing of resources to empower the visually impaired reader.In addition, the personal experiences he shares in the book brought back a host of memories of my own educational odyssey. Like Leibs, I and many others with low vision have experienced much hit-and-miss in the process of learning what we needed to know to gain the access we desire and need to succeed.Leibs has put together all the pieces of a complex puzzle into a user-friendly guide that paves the way for others to learn the rudiments of what it takes to access our literary world!

In my opinion, this book should be put into the hands of every visually impaired child in this country.Leibs also targets librarians with this work, as their awareness of these resources may enhance their own knowledge and skills in providing support for visually impaired consumers.I would additionally recommend this book to seniors who constitute, by far, the largest population of visually impaired readers.

Many thanks to Mr. Leibs for a significant contribution to the education and quality of life of blind and visually impaired people!

Praise for the Field Guide from an 85 year old reader
A volunteer at VISION Community Services, A Division of the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, a lovely 85 year old who is legally blind and severely hearing impaired, mentioned that she was interested in the Guide(as the result of reading a review in our newsletter).I loaned her ourlibrary copy and here's what she had to say: "Spent several hours with theField Guide.Every low vision person should have access to it.One bonusI reaped was a comprehensive description of major suppliers, what theysupply and differences between them.Also, Leibs gave a useful assessmentof assistive devices.This is bewildering to the newcomer to the field. In the end, I copied out several titles of Great Books to improve my mind. Several times I've tried Huckleberry Finn and quit in boredom.On theother hand, the Toni Morrison title caught my attention, I've been meaningto sample her.Don't expect to like it, but I might be surprised." Sheadds that it was also good to know the approximate cost of having a bookreprinted in large print, and the major LP companies.Despite beinglegally blind, her vision is better than her hearing so she reads largeprint books.Her vision loss is due to glaucoma, so she retains somedecent central vision.

Better Than a Compass
This book is the "needle of a compass" for the blind and dyslexic.Kudos to Leibs for providing the best resource guide for the blind and dyslexic I've read!He's not only gathered countless resourcesand provided those in an easy to navigate format, but he's added his ownpersonal struggles and discoveries that finally lead him to experience thesheer joy of reading.I've placed this book in a prominent location in myoffice and will refer to it often as it's truly the work of a researchgenius.Special attention should be paid to the Introduction as Leibstakes you on a poignant journey to his discovery of reading and shares hisexcitement as well as disappointment while uncovering the bliss of reading. Additionally, Leibs provides a "suggested reading" list withcontact information on how and where to acquire these books.Truly, hispassion for reading will no doubt inspire your own, whether you are a fullysighted reader or not.Kudos to Leibs!A gem of a book, and long overdue!

provides the key to 5 star service
"Comprehensive" starts the subtitle, and Comprehensive it is!Too many print-handicapped people are forced to stumble through the multi-layered service system, picking up clues almost by accident untilthey "strike gold" in the person of a skilled counselor orlibrarian.Here is a full set of Tools for Learning, along with a user'sguide!Important for every visually impaired student and family, vital forevery school or school system's Special Education department.No lessuseful for those with serious learning disorders like dyslexia, or withchallenging physical disabilities that prevent the easy handling of printedmaterial. Yes, addresses and phone numbers may change;new organizationsmay develop;but this is a book that will be USED and that will repay itspurchase many times over.

A reader from Upstate New York
This book should be in the hands of every sight-impaired student no later than age tweleve.Leibs has completely overhauled the orientation for reading among the blind from one of dependence on teachers andorganizations to one of connecting INDEPENDENTLY to a really vast array ofresources.This hardcover volume is quite easy to navigate - well designedand quite "user friendly". ... Read more

Product Description
Big Ideas in Small Packages: Using Picture Books with Older Readers empowers librarians and teachers to motivate reluctant readers through interactive lessons and activities. Written by Molly Pearson, she teaches how to use the engaging picture book format to promote reading, while questions and research projects encourage critical thinking in students in grades 4-12. Buyers can pair this book with Jane Heitman’s Using Picture Books to Teach Writing for a full range of reading and writing exercises. ... Read more

Product Description
Perhaps some may question the wisdom of putting out the Thoughts of
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to be used as a Reader by children in the
schools. It may appear to them better suited to the mature mind. The
principle, however, that has governed us in selecting reading for the
young has been to secure the best that we could find in all ages for
grown-up people. The milk and water diet provided for "my dear children"
is not especially complimentary to them. They like to be treated like
little men and women, capable of appreciating a good thing. One finds in
this royal philosopher a rare generosity, sweetness and humility,
qualities alike suited to all ages.

Adopting the philosopher's robe at twelve, he remains a student all his
life. The precepts that he would give for the government of others, he
has practised upon himself. In his time, as in ours, there were good
physicians for the mind and body, who could make wise prescriptions for
the government of their neighbors, but were unable to apply them to
themselves. The faults of our fellows are so numerous and so easy to cure
that one is readily tempted to become the physician, while our own faults
are so few and so unimportant that it is hardly worth while to give any
attention to them. Hence we have a multitude of physicians for humanity
in general, and a scarcity of individual healers.
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Product Description
Portrayals of America's people, places, and events in historical fiction integrate literature with history and make an exciting supplement to U.S. history classes. This book helps educators and students locate the best in classic and contemporary fiction in this subject area. Arranged in major chronological divisions of U.S. history, the annotated entries include standard bibliographic information, time period, subject, location, research base (if known), and whether the title is more appropriate for mature students or younger secondary students. VanMeter often lists prequels and sequels or notes when a title is more than 600 pages long. Extensive indexing provides access to entries on a wide variety of topics, from women, immigrants, and ethnic groups to military, political, and social events. ... Read more

Product Description
This primer of design is an earnest effort to make intelligible to the apprentice student certain fundamental principles of arrangement and of ornamentation whose use is instinctive to the accomplished typographer.
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