Issue 21 Spring 1996 REACH Resource Centre Desmond L Spiers	Collections under which this       article appears:       Particular Libraries       Special Needs Related Articles or Resources Other Articles by Author

The National Library for the Handicapped Child is now ten years old and still going strong. Yes, there have been problems with funding, because nationally there is a decreasing amount available for an ever increasing range of good causes. However the staff are all born optimists and plan on celebrating the organisation's twentieth birthday in 2006.

As 1996 is the tenth anniversary year of the organisation, it seems an ideal opportunity to reassess the work, and plan for the next decade. The first major decision has been to discuss with our Governing Council a name change to one which would more clearly reflect our aims and objectives. this change will be announced as soon as legal details have been finalised. Our logo will then become an integral part of the title of the organisation.

There are currently four main areas of service, through which children with reading difficulty can be helped. Three out of ten pupils in education, will at some time have a difficulty with reading, language and communication, serious enough to need intervention by a teacher, parent or other caring adult.

The Resource Centre offers a place where adults and children can brows through 10,000 items connected with reading. Although nothing from the centre is lent, advice is given as to where the materials can be borrowed or purchased. In addition to the stock, the Centre has experienced and sympathetic staff who are happy to help with problems related to children's reading.

Information provision covers the reading needs of children who may or may not have additional learning problems, such as sensory, intellectual, behavioural, emotional or physical difficulties. Requests for information range from: books published with sign language, books on puberty for teenagers with a reading age of 5-7 years, or large print atlas suitable for a nine year old, to research on the reading problems of children with cerebral palsy, or books suitable for nursery children which contain characters with disabilities or learning problems. Enquiries are constantly increasing and 1995 saw a 42% jump in requests for assistance compared with 1994.

As soon as funding becomes available a new computer system will be purchased, which will eventually enable some enquiries to access the catalogue through the Internet. The new computer system will also facilitate an improved Publications Programme. A three tier programme of publications will be released gradually over the next three years.

1. STARTING POINTS - will be double-sided A4 sheets covering six key areas that can affect a child's ability to become a reader - Visual, Hearing and Physical Impairment, Language Problems, Learning Difficulty, and Emotional & Behavioural Problems. These will be up-dated regularly, and will be free as an addendum to the Information Pack.
2. NEXT STEPS - These will cover in more detail some of the areas of concern listed in STARTING POINTS. Titles will include - Poetry for Special Needs; Wordless Picture Books; Learning to Read and Write; Encouraging Reading; and Communication, with more to follow at a later date as funding becomes available. The first title should be available by September 1996. There will be a charge for these.
3. HANDBOOKS - Two of these have already been published. They are Death and Bereavement: helping children understand and My Tummy Has A Headache: helping children understand illness. Both have been very successful. When finance is available a second edition of Death And Bereavement will be released. New titles will include Reading With Eyes, Ears, Hands and Fingers, to accompany our Inservice Training programme.

The fourth area of service is INSERVICE TRAINING for teachers, carers, parents, librarians and other interested groups. These are specially tailored day or half-day courses on the varying needs of children who have a reading difficulty. The courses cover selection of material; use of books with children' ways of introducing books and reading; working with reading and writing skills in infant and junior schools. A charge is made for this service, and advance bookings are necessary.

The tenth anniversary has been highlighted through the production of a new publicity poster. This is an 'ABC OF READING FOR CHILDREN' (A2) with 26 specially commissioned illustrations by well known illustrators of the calibre of Jan Omerod, Quentin Blake, Tony Ross, Shirley Hughes, Pauline Baynes, and Jan Pienkowski. It has been well received by children and adults alike. The cost is £3 each inclusive of postage and packing for 1-49 copies. A bulk rate is also available.

This article is only a short introduction to the work of the Reach Resource Centre. There is a video for hire or sale which illustrates in practical ways the work of the Centre. The organisation is still dependent upon voluntary financial contributions in order to maintain current services. Any expansion needs extra project funding. For leaflets, Information Packs, further information on funding, enquiries about the Newsletter and becoming a Friend of the Centre, contact: Reach Resource Centre, Wellington House, Wellington Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AG, Tel: 01734 891101 (voice & minicom); Fax: 01734 790989.

Desmond L Spiers is Librarian & Information Officer, NLHC Reach Resource Centre