About the Book:
Rainbow Joe and Me by Maria Diaz Strom | Kirkus Reviews
A review of the book Rainbow Joe and Me from Kirkus reviews.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/maria-diaz-strom/rainbow-joe-and-me/
Interview with Children’s Book Author-Illustrator Maria Diaz Strom
A short interview with author-illustrator Maria Diaz Strom.
http://cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit-resources/read/authors/interviews/mariadiazstrom/
History:
History of Blindness | American Action Fund
A timeline of educational and rehabilitative advancements made for the blind in America.
https://www.actionfund.org/history-blindness
Blindness in America | American Action Fund
Statistics of blindness in America in 2005.
Culture:
Understanding the Visually Impaired
A 3 minute video about understanding the visually impaired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0BBRbvde2U
A Child with Blindness -The Planson Family - Our Special Life
A 5 minute episode looking into the life of a family with a child with blindness.
Teaching Activities:
Classroom Guide for Rainbow Joe and Me
A teacher’s guide for the book Rainbow Joe and Me from the publisher’s website.
https://www.leeandlow.com/images/pdfs/rainbow.pdf
Removing the Stumbling Block: Teaching Disability Acceptance and Diversity
Classroom activities for teaching about disability acceptance and diversity.
http://jewishspecialneeds.blogspot.com/2014/06/teaching-disability-acceptance-and.html
Understanding Prejudice: Teacher’s Corner
Various activities to teach about prejudice in elementary school classrooms.
http://www.understandingprejudice.org/teach/elemact.htm
Bringing Sight to the Sightless
Classroom activities to teach students about visual impairment.
Articles For Reference:
Exploring Issues of Disability in Children’s Literature Discussions
A qualitative study examining how children in two multiage classrooms examine issues of disability through conversations during read-aloud and literature circle discussions.
http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/3865/3644
Listening to Braille
A New York Times article how modern technology has impacted those with visual impairment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/magazine/03Braille-t.html
What is Braille? - American Foundation for the Blind
An article explaining what Braille is and how it works.
http://www.afb.org/info/living-with-vision-loss/braille/what-is-braille/123
Braille: Deciphering the Code
An article explaining how Braille is used as a code.
http://braillebug.afb.org/braille_deciphering.asp
The Braille Story - YouTube
A 2 minute video of how Braille was developed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IQKqPaICKI
Braille Translator
A translator that converts text to Braille notation.
Organizations:
NBP - Promoting Braille Literacy
The guiding purposes of National Braille Press are to promote the literacy of blind children through braille and to provide access to information that empowers blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community affairs.
Development Projects:
Stories & Lesson Plans | Global Oneness Project
The Global Oneness Project exposes stories that explore cultural, social and environmental issues with a humanistic lens. Aligned to National and Common Core standards, its lesson plans, available in both English or Spanish offer an interdisciplinary approach to learning and facilitates the development of active, critical thinking.
