About the Authors
SCALARS Publishing produces unique scholarly works for which there are limited but persisting needs. Its products are distributed by direct mail or bookstores. Inquiries are welcomed for information about products or services.
Cay Holbrook
Cay Holbrook is Professor of Special Education at The University of British Columbia, Canada. She has extensive experience and is widely known as a teacher, teacher educator, author and consultant. She is expert in selecting literacy media for students with visual impairments.
Frances Mary D’Andrea, Ph.D
Frances Mary D’Andrea, Ph.D., is an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh and other universities, and an educational consultant specializing in literacy issues related to students with visual impairments. Dr. D’Andrea began as a teacher of students with visual impairments in 1982. From 1995-2005, she worked at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), and helped establish their National Literacy Center. She co-authored several books, including Ashcroft’s Programmed Instruction in Braille: Unified English Braille, The Braille Enthusiast’s Dictionary, and Assistive Technology for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment and other books, chapters, and articles. She has served as AFB’s representative to BANA since 1998, and is currently Immediate Past-Chair of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA). She also serves as secretary on the Executive Committee of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB).
LaRhea Sanford, Ed. D.
LaRhea Sanford, Ed. D. (Retired) is a Special Education Coordinator, Metropolitan Nashville Public School System. She has many years experience as teacher and administrator in local and residential school programs and as a long-time adjunct faculty member at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. She is widely known as an author and for her services as a consultant to state and national organizations.
Dr. Samuel C. Ashcroft
Dr. Samuel C. Ashcroft (1921 – 2006) worked on behalf of blind and visually impaired children and youth spanned over fifty years in both education and research. Most of his career was at George Peabody College in Nashville where he developed and coordinated a regional program of preparation for teachers of blind and visually impaired. Dr. Ashcroft was active in the Council for Exceptional Children, serving as its National President (1970-1971). Dr. Ashcroft taught and consulted in numerous international settings, including the Philippines, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Kenya, Australia and Brazil. He founded SCALARS Publishing in 1990. In 2002, he was inducted into The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field.
Dr. Alan J. Koenig
Dr. Alan J. Koenig (1954-2005) was professor of Special Education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. He spent almost 16 years preparing teachers to work with students who were blind or visually impaired. Prior to his work at Texas Tech, Alan worked as an itinerant teacher of students with visual impairments in Iowa and as an outreach consultant at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, Iowa. Alan had an international reputation as an expert in the field of vision. His research and publications on Braille literacy are highly respected and he traveled extensively providing related workshops. He authored, co-authored, and edited 12 books and over 50 professional journal articles and book chapters about Braille literacy. Alan, along with Cay Holbrook, authored The Braille Enthusiast’s Dictionary.