The hand of a young child is playing with a Monarch butterfly manipulative included in On the Way to Literacy: The Caterpillar. The book is opened to a page with bright and colorful illustrations of a butterfly flying over a field.

On the Way to Literacy

by American Printing House for the Blind

Est. $80–$400

Professional guidance helps The books themselves are accessible without professional help, but the series is a structured curriculum meant to be delivered in sequence with literacy readiness assessment. A Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) is best positioned to determine entry point, pace progression, and integrate into IEP goals. Professional_recommended rather than professional_required because a knowledgeable parent or paraprofessional could use it with the guide, but outcomes are meaningfully better with TVI involvement.

Last verified June 15, 2026 · classified May 23, 2026

What it is

Summary

AI-generated from vendor-published content · May 23, 2026

On the Way to Literacy is an early reading curriculum from the American Printing House for the Blind, designed specifically for young children who are blind or have low vision. Each book in the series pairs tactile illustrations with braille and large-print text, giving students multiple ways to access the same story content — which is essential for children who can't yet read print independently. This is a complete classroom or home literacy program, not a single storybook; it's meant to be used across lessons with a teacher or vision specialist guiding progression. The series works best when an educator familiar with braille literacy instruction coordinates the pacing, since tactile reading readiness involves more than just decoding symbols.

Quick Facts Catalog facts · auto-generated
Type
Addresses
Platform
Age range
ComplexityProfessional guidance helps
PriceEst. $80–$400
Funding
  • AT Act lending
  • Out of pocket
  • School district
VerifiedJune 15, 2026
ClassifiedMay 23, 2026 · confidence: high
VendorAmerican Printing House for the Blind ↗

What Setup Looks Like

  • Out of the box
    Open a book and explore tactile illustrations and text together with the child.
  • With a guide
    1. Review the OTWL teacher's guide or lesson sequence provided with the series.
    2. Align book selection to the child's current tactile and literacy readiness level — expect 30–60 minutes of planning per unit. See manufacturer support resources for detailed instructions.
  • With professional help
    1. A Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) assesses the child's tactile readiness and braille prereading skills to determine where to start in the series.
    2. Ongoing instruction typically integrates OTWL into IEP literacy goals across multiple school terms.

Getting it

Try Before You Buy

Devices like this are often available to borrow through your state's AT Act program — typically free or low-cost — so you can try it before buying or pursuing funding.

Find your state's lending program →

Where to Get It

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Wondering how equipment like this gets paid for? See the official funding programs in your state.

Sources & fine print

Vendor facts (name, price, platforms, vendor link) sourced from American Printing House for the Blind — view on vendor site; last verified June 15, 2026.

Classification & description AI-generated from vendor-published content on May 23, 2026 · confidence: high. Vendor specs may lag; verify before relying on details in a clinical or funding artifact.

WhatCanHelp.com helps you explore options — it does not replace a professional AT assessment.