Book Review: IOS in the Classroom: A Guide for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments

Abstract

iOS in the Classroom: A Guide for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments, Larry L. Lewis, Jr. New York: AFB Press, 2016,138 pp. Paperback, $29.95; e-book (ePUB or Kindle), $20.95; online, $17.95. It is wonderful to have been given the opportunity to review iOS in the Classroom: A Guide for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments, by Larry L. Lewis, Jr. A growing need exists for useful information related to best practices for instruction using current technology for students who are visually impaired (that is, those who are blind or have low vision), and this publication could not be more timely or responsive to this persistent demand. A NEW RESOURCE TO SUPPORT MORE EXTENSIVE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING On May 1, 2016, the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) launched the Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist for People with Visual Impairments (CATIS) credential. The CATIS certification has created a national standard in the area of assistive technology instruction for people who are visually impaired in the United States. iOS in the Classroom: A Guide for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments is a brand-new resource that can support the training, experience, and coursework required of the CATIS credential, as well as the diverse learning needs of people with visual impairments. The guidebook features Larry Lewis's succinct method of communicating about innovative technological solutions for people who are visually impaired, and it will benefit a wide range of professionals who work in the field of visual impairment. The guide provides vital information about the accessibility of iOS--an operating system designed to be used with mobile devices manufactured by Apple such as the iPad, iPhone, and iPod--and provides instructional strategies for people with visual impairments who use these devices in classroom settings and elsewhere. It is common for vision professionals to be on the lookout for additional sources of up-to-date professional development opportunities related to iOS technology. I suggest such individuals consider pairing this guide together with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) eLearning webinar, iOS in the Classroom: iPad Learning Success for Students with Vision Loss. Also created by Larry Lewis, this webinar is the perfect complement to this new publication. SUITABLE FOR A BROAD AUDIENCE The book is intended to serve as a guide for instructors of students with visual impairments whose students would benefit from using iPads in educational contexts. The descriptions provided within this book are written for an iPad running iOS version 9. The strategy of targeting a specific iOS device, iOS version, and audience facilitates a high degree of consistency within the guide. This approach makes the content very easy to follow from chapter to chapter. Thus, this book is an essential tool for vision professionals. The information presented throughout the book is applicable in settings outside of the classroom, and it includes an appendix, entitled Beyond the Classroom, that specifically describes how an iOS device can be used at home (for identifying colors) or in the community (for identifying paper currency or wayfinding). The Resources section also includes information that is suitable for a broad audience. Vision professionals who are providing instruction in the use of any iOS device will find information within this publication for an extensive number of tasks, relevant instructional strategies, and important resources. The reader can adapt the content of the book for any setting (for transition services or vision rehabilitation programs, for example) and any iOS device (that is, iPad, iPhone, or iPod). …