Inclusive Services
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Reading Resources & Support
Not everyone is a bookworm, but studies show that regular reading for pleasure at a young age leads to a happier, more fulfilling future. We offer a range of free online courses to help build children’s confidence and children’s reading skills through Universal Class.
We also provide resources such Online Magazines for free using your library card and PIN to access a wide range of reading material, that may better suit their tastes.
Donegal County Library Service offer a range of titles aimed at encouraging children with dyslexia to read more as well as physical resources you can borrow to help aid reading.
Resources
• CPens: Designed to promote active independent reading, understanding, and learning, they are the ideal support tool for people with reading difficulties such as dyslexia or aphasia. They are also of benefit to people with vision problems or those learning a new language. The C-Pen Reader Pen is a portable, pocket-sized tool that uses a natural speaking voice to read the words on the page. It has a built-in dictionary so you can easily access the meaning of words as you read. The C-Pen doesn’t need internet or Wi-Fi to work, so can be used anytime or anywhere. It can also read in other languages such as French, Spanish, and Italian. Contact your local library to ask about borrowing one for three weeks.
• TTRS: Touch-Type Read and Spell (TTRS) is an award winning online course that teaches touch-typing skills to help children and adults improve reading and spelling. Through a multi-sensory approach, the user hears a word spoken, sees the word on screen and is prompted to use the correct fingers via the on-screen keyboard. TTRS is particularly useful for those with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ASD, and ADHD. TTRS is extremely beneficial for anyone experiencing reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. This web based program supports self-paced learning and can be accessed from the privacy of your own home on your own device. To register for TTRS simply email your full name to: ttrs@donegalcoco.ie
Books, eBooks and eAudio: We have a wide range of Barrington Stoke books, which have dyslexia friendly pages, fonts, and colouring. Click on this link to select and reserve a Barrington Stoke title that interests your child.
Borrowbox is a wonderful resource for eBooks and eAudiobooks with the options to choose the speed and background colour of pages to suit all abilities.
Don’t forget it’s free to join the library and use its resources! Joining is simple, either call into your local library with some ID or join online here.
Inclusive Services
Donegal Library Service have done a lot in recent years to ensure that our services are accessible to as many people as possible. Thanks to the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Dormant Accounts Fund we have invested in various services that we provide free to all users such as:
• A Sensory Pod in Bundoran Library
• Sensory Walls in Buncrana & Twin Towns Library
• Tovertafel which are available in Central Library, Gweedore & Buncrana Libraries
• See & Learn resources for Children with Down syndrome
• Numicon at Home
• Touch-Type Read and Spell (TTRS) Literacy & Typing Course
• Sensory Toys and Calming Boxes available to use within the library
• Sensory Friendly Time at specific branches that have reduced lighting and noise. Locations and times are available on our What’s On Calendar
• Social Stories available to help individuals to prepare for their visit to the library.
• And we also have many books that deal with the topic of autism & neurodiversity.