Braille materials
A common question we get from those who have enjoyed our children’s books is what to do after your child has outgrown the titles we have available. There are many excellent sources of materials for the more experienced reader, whether an older student or an adult.
Bookshare
One of the services we recommend most strongly to those looking for a good library is the Bookshare platform operated by Benetech. Bookshare has a large collection of materials which, since they are distributed digitally, are available instantly. Bookshare’s catalog is broader than most other available sources, with many textbooks, less popular works, and materials in many languages to be found in addition to popular leisure titles. Materials are available in digital Braille suitable for reading on a Braille display or even being embossed, and if neither of these is available, they can also be read by a computer, phone, or portable media player. Bookshare is also available in nearly every country, while many of the other services we listed below are country-specific. For U.S. residents, Bookshare memberships are free for students at any level. If you are outside the U.S., Bookshare has different membership pricing depending on your country, including arrangements for schools and students. If in doubt, contact Bookshare’s membership team to find the options that apply to you. When we’re asked for advice on where to find a certain book or how to have many available, Bookshare is usually first on our list of suggestions.
National libraries
In addition to Bookshare, there are many national libraries providing access to Braille and audio materials, including the National Library Service in the United States, CELA in Canada, RNIB Library and RNIB Bookshare (not to be confused with the global Bookshare service) in the UK, and many other such libraries. Since most of our readers are in the United States, this page mostly focuses on those services available in our home country, but there are many national analogs to these services in other countries.
National Library Service (NLS) for US residents and citizens
The National Library Service provides Braille and audio materials and is free for any U.S. resident or citizen with a qualifying disability. If you prefer to read books on paper, NLS is a useful source as, unlike Bookshare, they still maintain a collection of paper Braille books which you can request. They also have a well-stocked online catalog of digital Braille and audio materials. Even if you are getting all the materials you want to read from elsewhere, one significant advantage to NLS membership is the Braille eReader program which provides a free 20-cell Braille display to each patron should they request it. If you already have a Braille display, this is likely not the most important, but if you enjoy reading in Braille and don’t have a display, then the one available on loan from this program can be used to read materials from NLS, Bookshare, Newsline (described below), or other files you want to read in Braille. For all these programs, we often recommend NLS membership for any Braille reader who qualifies.
To join the NLS, you will apply to the library serving the state in which you live or the NLS national office if you live outside the United States (in which case you must be a U.S. citizen). The NLS website includes information about what you will need to qualify and your state library can assist with the process. Once you are a member, you can get access to the BARD online catalog, the eReader program, or request materials from your state library which will be mailed to you.
News Paper Services
While most newspapers can be read online, there are services such as NFB Newsline in the US which provide more convenient access to accessible versions of newspapers. This service makes versions of newspapers and magazines which are easily navigated on a Braille display, computer or phone with a screen reader, and a reading service available from any phone (including landlines). For parents of younger children, Newsline has a membership intended for children which provides access to child-focused magazines and a smaller number of newspapers, although children can also be enrolled in the full membership. If you are also a member of the National Library Service, the eReader display, along with many other displays that are commercially available, can automatically download Newsline material so the latest issues of your favorite papers are always available in your favorite format. For those in the US, signing up to use the Newsline service is a very straightforward process.
Textbooks and other educational resources
Most of the services listed above are general, and while Bookshare does have many textbooks, there are times where a specific title simply is not available there or a more detailed Braille transcription is required. In the United States, the American Printing House for the Blind transcribes many textbooks, especially including ones with mathematical or scientific contents which are harder to find elsewhere. When they have not produced the material, there is a database, called Louis, which tracks materials produced by some other organizations as well. Schools in the United States have access to funds to obtain these materials, so if a student needs a Braille book for a class, this should virtually always be an option for them.
Braille Production
Sometimes, materials just won’t be available, no matter how many libraries you check. That doesn’t mean that the material can’t be made accessible, though. Depending on what it is, there are several good ways to obtain Braille or accessible digital copies. Generally, we would recommend using a Braille display rather than embossed paper, especially for large documents or ones you’re unlikely to use many times, because Braille paper is bulky and can take a while to emboss. When you want something on paper, though, you can either obtain an embosser and translation software like Braille Blaster or Sao Mi Braille, or there are many local businesses who emboss documents on demand. For those who are embossing their own documents, we at Seeing Hands operate a discussion list where embosser users assist one another in getting the best results from the equipment, software, and documents they are working with, so if you have any challenges with this process, jump in and ask for advice as we’ve likely solved that problem before.
Other questions
This page is just an overview of some of the options available. Specific needs are rarely so easily met, and that’s where we come in. If there is a problem about access to Braille that you are trying to solve, contact us and we would be happy to provide suggestions, let you know about options we’re aware of, or suggest how you could best find what you are looking for. If you’re not sure what you need, our volunteers have experienced the process of learning and working from the perspective of the blind reader, parents of blind children, teachers of the blind, and those innovating to produce new tools to make this easier. While we can’t solve every problem, we’ve succeeded many times and would really like to do whatever we can to make your journey easier and more successful.