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Hello, I'd like to look into the possibility of the exchange of adapted educational materials for the sight impaired between education authorities and higher education establishments using the internet. I work for Derbyshire County Council's Sight Impaired Service. I am based at a Primary integrated facility. My work covers two broad categories, the adaptation and production of educational materials for sight impaired children, and the identification, setup and running of technical aids for these children. Around the country, huge amounts of material are adapted for the sight impaired in education. This is being done in all sorts of ways, from peri teachers taking Perkins' home in the evenings to prepare work for the next day, to full desk top publishing systems adapted to produce tactile as well as visual output. Many different publishers' schemes are in use for the same subjects, within counties as well as between them. Individually no authority or other organisation can hope to adapt them all. This message is being posted on the senco-forum and the dis-forum. If those who subscribe to these forums and produce materials for the sight impaired sent out a catalogue of materials they have available every three or six months, a lot of duplication will be avoided. The exchange of material could take place in several ways: 1) As hard copy; Braille, large print, graphics, graphics for minolta'ing (we say it, but I've never had to spell it before) and vacuum formed graphics. If users did not have compatible software, hard copy exchanges could be arranged between individuals. 2) As ASCII or ANSI text files. Almost any computer and software in education could handle these. 3) As fully adapted computer files on disc (e.g an Ami Pro file containing Corel Draw graphics) . This would require people to have the same software at both ends. There are actually several kinds of ASCII and ANSI, the most important distinction being between files with hard returns at the end of every line (not v. useful), and those with hard returns only at the end of paragraphs (Much more useful). Those who have the facility can save the text in the format required by the end user. Several details like this will need to be worked out between individuals once contact is made. I would suggest that all transfers take place on the understanding that the recipient must obtain copyright clearance from the publisher before using the material. If people are interested in this idea, please reply with any suggestions and ideas. I'll send a list of Materials from Markeaton on request. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& & & & Adrian Farnsworth, County Resource Officer. & & Peter Lumley, Teacher-in-Charge. & & Sight Impaired Facility, & & Markeaton Primary School, & & Newtons Walk, & & Bromley Street, & & Derby, DE22 1HL. & & Phone 01332 347374 & & Fax 01332 207265 (9.00 am to 3.30 pm) & & e-mail [log in to unmask] & & & &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%