This book is one of the examples shared showing how to adapt books for children with cortical visual impairment (CVI). Please begin by reading the introductory information:
- Literacy for Children with CVI: Overview and Implications for Different Phases
- Guidelines for Modifying Books for Students in Phases I, II, and III
- Adapting Books and Literacy for Students with CVI
- General Materials Used to Adapt Books for Children with CVI
My book, “Five Little Lights” was created for a student who visually functions in Phase II and who attends well to lighted targets or targets that are backlit. I present this book on a large book stand so that the book can stand upright. For photographic purposes, a white book stand was used in the photos below, but it is recommended that you use a black book stand with a black Invisiboard behind, which will reduce the environmental visual complexity and/or visual complexity in the array. I also often turn down the room lights, so that the target lights in this book stand out more clearly.
The individual lights used in this book come in a packet of 30 from Leorx and are called Leorx LED Party Lights (see Materials Used for Adapting Books and Literacy for Students with CVI and the strategytosee website under Recommended Products). These Leorx Lights can be twisted on or off, as needed. I suspended the lights from heavy black, threads and carefully spaced them apart from one another.
Because my student initially had difficulty with too much “visual clutter” on a page, I covered the print with little fold down tabs.
There is Velcro attached to the tabs, so they can either be held open or closed.
When the student became very familiar with this book and was better at using his vision, we turned the tabs upward and exposed the print.
Five Little Lights
(To the tune of, “Ten Little Monkeys Jumping on a Bed”)
Examples of Books
The following are other examples of books I have created for students with CVI:
- Where is the Red Gift Bag?
- Getting Ready for School (CVI-friendly pegboard book)
- One Yellow Slinky Bouncing Up and Down
- Three Silver Pie Tins and One Red Puff
- Three Bright Red Pom Poms Lined Up in a Row
- My Favorite Things
- Clifford’s Family (Modified Version)
For more ideas from Diane Sheline, visit Strategy to See.