Digital books are necessary for students with disabilities who find it difficult to read printed material. This includes students with dyslexia and those with a visual impairment.

In Ireland, book publishers are more than willing to share the digital copies of their textbooks for children who need them. However, there is no central repository of textbooks in digital format. This means that parents and schools have to contact each publisher individually.

This can be a daunting task. 

While the process of requesting digital books from publishers is generally similar, each has their own requirements.  Also, digital books come in different formats. Two of the most popular formats are e-book and PDF. Depending on the format and the way in which the books have been created by the publisher, they work with different types of technology. 

Below, we have outlined the process to obtain digital books from different publishers in Ireland and the technology required to use their books. 

CJ Fallon

• Format: E-book
• Compatible devices: Desktop/Laptop, Tablet, iPad
• Technology required: CJFallon app. NOTE: On iPad, app works with in-built voice recognition feature and text-to-speech apps. On tablets and laptop, app works with text-to-speech software.
• Process: Digital copies can be requested by submitting the following details to [email protected] - Students Name, Email Address, School Name & Address, List of titles required, Scan of report (preferred, not mandatory).

Prim-Ed

• Format: PDF
• Compatible devices: Desktop/Laptop, Tablet, iPad
• Technology required: PDFs can be used with text-to-speech software. 
• Process: School or teacher needs to fill in the form and email it to [email protected].

Folens

• Format:PDF
• Compatible devices: Desktop/Laptop, Tablet, iPad. NOTE: Their new app is currently under construction. It may work with iPad or tablet.
• Technology required: PDFs can be read using text-to-speech software.
• Process: Parents and teachers can email the completed form to [email protected].

Gill Education

• Format: PDF
• Compatible devices: Desktop/Laptop, Tablet, iPad
• Technology required: PDFs are compatible with most text-to-speech  software, including Read&Write Gold, Dragon Naturally Speaking and ClaroRead. E-books can be used through GillExplore e-Book app or on Gill Education's website. E-books are not read aloud and cannot be used with text-to-speech software.
• Process: Available for free for students using a read-aloud software or other assistive technologies. Can be requested by submitting the following documents to Sarah McCoy, Production Department, Gill Education, Hume Avenue, Park West, D12 YV96 or emailing [email protected] - Copy of medical certificate or psychologist’s report confirming the student's condition, Signed copy of 'Gill Education Agreement Template for Parents'. Mention titles required on the back of the form. 

Educate.ie

• Format: PDF
• Compatible devices: Desktop/Laptop, Tablet, iPad
• Technology required: Text-to-speech software like Read & Write Gold.
• Process: Parents who have purchased printed textbooks can request for their PDF version free of charge by emailing the completed form to [email protected]. Teachers can request flipbooks by emailing Sean Towmey at [email protected].

Edco

• Format: E-book
• Compatible devices: Desktop/Laptop, Tablet, iPad
• Technology required: Edco Learning platform. The platform offers the following features -  text-to-speech, highlighting, ability to type on the book, Spotlight (this darkens out all but the paragraph being read).
• Process: Complete the form and send to the address therein. Edco Learning will then create an account for the student with access to any required Edco e-books.

NOTE:

1. By default, PDFs usually open in a PDF program like Adobe, and not in Microsoft Edge browser as demonstrated in the video. To open them in Edge, right click on the PDF file, then select the Open with option and then choose Microsoft Edge from the list. Note: This feature can be used even when the computer is not connected to the internet.

2. Not all PDFs may be read aloud by Microsoft Edge in the same way and some may not be read aloud at all. It all depends on how the PDF was created.