iPads

girl with ipad smallLiberty Braille has a limited number of iPads available for use with accessible digital text. The program is offered for Oklahoma K-12 students on IEPs who are currently receiving curricular materials in braille or large print from Liberty Braille. Requests are filled on a first come, first served basis.

The purpose of this program is to provide visually impaired Oklahoma students a device that will allow them to experience and master relevant mainstream technology, use applications to enhance learning, and access textbooks in a format that is customized to the student’s needs. There is no cost at all for participation in this program.

Accessing electronic books on the iPad is intuitive and easy. Students can increase the font size up to 72 points, change background colors, increase contrast, and/or may opt to have the book read aloud to them by a synthesized voice.  Braille readers can pair the iPad with a refreshable braille display and read with their fingers! The electronic books will be coming from Bookshare and the application your student will be using is called Read2Go.

Not sure an iPad is right for your student? Do a trial loan first!

We recommend you conduct an assistive technology assessment of the student using an iPad with digital text. Oklahoma ABLE Tech provides short-term loans of iPads and other devices which can be used to access reading materials including laptops, Chromebooks, and refreshable braille displays.

iPad Program FAQs

  • How do I borrow an iPad for an assessment/trial loan? Submit a short-term device loan request at Oklahoma ABLE Tech or for assistance call 800-257-1705.  Request to borrow an iPad and indicate that the device is for accessing digital books from Bookshare. ABLE Tech will send an iPad with sample books loaded into Read2Go or a comparable accessible book-reading app, which you can then use to assess the suitability of the format for your particular student. When you have determined that the iPad and digital text are appropriate for your student, you may submit your request for a school-term loan of an iPad from Liberty Braille through this website.
  • I have a student whom I’d like to have try an iPad but school has started – is it too late? No, it’s not too late. ABLE Tech is doing demo loans all year round. As soon as you submit the paperwork for the demo, your student is put on our loan list. They will receive their school year iPad as soon as they complete the demo, based on availability. We will start the school year with iPads to loan but we do not have an unlimited supply so don’t wait!
  • If I order an iPad for a student, do all her books need to be in digital format? No. Some books, such as workbooks, are not appropriate for digital delivery. In general, we find that most Math does not work well in digital format but most Language Arts does. You will use the demo process to determine which books should be delivered digitally and which should be hard copy based on the needs of your individual student.
  • Can an iPad work for a Student who is Braille Reader? Yes! There are many great accessibility features that make the iPad work well for students with little or no vision. When paired with a refreshable braille display, it works very well for many braille readers. Currently, technology is not advanced enough to make mathematics usable in a digital format but novels, and other ELA materials are generally very accessible.  We have a limited number of braille displays available for school-term loans. We recommend you conduct an assistive technology assessment using a braille display from ABLE Tech before requesting a display from Liberty Braille. Click here to watch a video where a teacher demonstrates using an iPad paired with an refreshabraille 18.
  • Which grade levels do well with the iPad? In general, we have seen success with kids in grades K-12. Maturity and level of personal responsibility should factor heavily in your decision to try an iPad for a student. Overall, student response for all grades has been enthusiastic.

For more information and forms to request an iPad for your qualifying student, please contact us.