The unique needs of the children we serve often spark the development of strategies and solutions that can benefit a wider range of student needs. This is made possible when professional collaborations bring together the resources of different programs and use the potent technology tools now available in many schools. This synergy of need and technology resulted in the development of an on-line reading program for a child with literacy and communication needs. Two of the best known examples of this type of software are the Living Books series and Disney's Animated Storybooks. Talking storybook programs appear to have great promise for students with problems in reading.
Text is read aloud so that students can gain meaning from print.
Also, these programs motivate learners with dazzling graphics and colorful animated story sequences. Educators know that computer technology is available to support them in teaching literacy skills to children with disabilities. Inevitably, this shortens the time available for support staff to modify these texts so that visually impaired students can use them. One consequence of this is that books for young readers who are blind are sometimes reproduced in the form of a single sheet of Braille. In certain learning situations this denies the student appropriate access to the curriculum.