Reading, writing and arithmetic are the classic classroom basics. But for some kids reading is an extra challenge. Children with vision loss, physical disabilities like cerebral palsy that make it difficult for them to turn the pages of a book, or learning problems such as dyslexia have trouble with reading – and this gives them trouble with other subjects, too.

The Bookshare program can help.

Bookshare, celebrating its 10^th anniversary, is a special digital library that includes more than 150,000 books – from popular fiction to textbooks, school reading lists to reference books. And thanks to a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Education, qualifying U.S. students can access it free.

Many students join through their schools (and upcoming teacher conferences are a great time to get this done). Teachers visit the Bookshare site, certify that the student has a qualifying disability, and can then download books for the student. Parents can also get individual memberships for their children through schools or on their own. Either way, a “proof of disability” certificate must be signed by a doctor or special-education teacher.

Bookshare books are accessed on a computer, and special software lets the reader see the printed text and hear it read. The software lets users enlarge the text, change the background color, and even choose the voice that is reading. “If you are reading Charles Dickens, you can find a voice that has a British accent,” says parent outreach manager Mario Oliveros.

Titles are available for kindergartners through adult readers, and kids are allowed to read any book in the collection, whether for school or for fun. Yes, fun. Because being able to hear the text read is often enough to turn non-readers into readers. “One of the things we hear is that students who generally didn’t like to read are now recommending books to their parents,” says Lisa Wadors, Education Program Manager for Bookshare. And they often have a much easier time with school work and homework, and are able to work more independently with this reading tool.

The Bookshare website has a review feature, where readers can leave their comments. And if a student wants to read a particular book, they can put in a request. The program also provides school books, including text books, though most of these must be downloaded by schools on behalf of the student.

Visit bookshare.org for more information, including program signup info.