My doctor told me that my eyesight will continue to deteriorate as I get older. I intend to fight that with lots of carrots and lutein, but I’ve often wondered what I would do if I ever went blind. I would miss seeing my children’s faces, the starry sky at night, the cute dimples in my husband’s cheeks, and I would miss being able to read.
This made me wonder what programs are available to bring books to the blind. I found some I think would be very useful and I encourage you to look them over and share them with any friends you might have who might benefit from them.
The first is Bookshare.org. They have 30,850 accessible books, including New York Times Bestsellers, and over 150 newspapers that you can subscribe to. You download them in either DAISY (a digital talking book) or BRF (a similar software.) And if you’re an author or a publisher, you can donate materials to be used as well.
You can also contact Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. They record five hundred new titles every month, and that includes fiction, nonfiction, and textbooks. Right now they have 30,702 titles to choose from. They’ll even sell you a CD player to listen to your books. If you use your own player, you will have to purchase a User Activation Key for $10, but if you already have a CD player, that will save you some money. You can shop online or visit the website to find one of their nationwide locations.
At the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, you will find books in Braille as well as on CD. This program is connected to the Library of Congress and you can register to have books delivered to you in the mail, postage free. They have an online catalog with book biographies so you can find something that will appeal to you.
These are just three of the many options that I found. You can find a long list of other companies by going to your favorite search engine and inputting “books on tape for the blind” or a similar search.
It’s my earnest desire that no one should have to go without reading. Everyone, regardless of their situation, should have books available to them. How wonderful it is that even if you’ve lost your sight, you can still enjoy a good “read.”
Related Blogs:
Hearing Helen: the Wisdom of Helen Keller
Literacy Series: An Introduction
Best Places on the Internet to Buy Books