I have a bunch of pictures and stuff I want to post to the blog, but somehow I just haven't had a chance recently. Hopefully soon! In the meantime, I wanted to post this list of resources for Braille books for children that I compiled after doing some internet searches earlier this fall, just in case some of our aniridia family is interested. If you have other resources that you've liked, please let me know. :-)
Resources for Free Braille Books
(All information taken from the websites listed, or from WonderBaby.org's Braille Resources list, or from the NFB's list of Braille resources.)
The Book Angel Project: Children in the US can sign up for two free books through this Seedlings project. You can sign up every year! Sometimes they offer yet another free book to any VI child in the state of MI at Christmastime.
ReadBooks!: National Braille Press, along with Seedlings, distributes free braille book bags to families with blind and visually impaired children, ages birth to seven, across the U.S. and Canada. Each bag contains a print/braille children's book, a braille primer for parents, a tactile toy, info about braille literacy, and more!
Free Braille Books Program: In 1997 the American Action Fund started this program to provide blind children a free Braille book every month from a popular children’s reading series. The books are for the children to keep and collect for as long as they want them. The titles published every month are the same titles that are available in bookstores and public libraries everywhere. In the past ten years over one hundred seventy titles from popular children’s reading series were distributed to thousands of blind children. (I believe this is for children who are grades 2 and up in school.)
The Braille Special Collection: Offers children ages 3-18 a variety of books of which they may select up to 12 books a year. Previously known as Dots for Tots, this program is offered through the Braille Institute.
A Funny Alphabet Book: The Xavier Society for the Blind produces a large print/braille alphabet book full of fun tactile pictures. The books are made by the New York State Columbiettes and given free of charge to any child with a visual impairment. Visit their site or call (212) 473-7800 (212) 473-7800 for more information. (I haven't actually received this one yet – They responded to my email with some paperwork, and I haven't looked into it very closely yet. I think I may have to have a doctor certify Elli's condition before they'll send the book. They primarily provide Catholic/spiritual reading materials in Braille.)
Seeing Hands
info@seeinghands.org
Organization offers a free Braille book to participants on their birthday! Go to their website and click on “Order Form”. Fill out and mail back to them to order your free birthday book. (I mailed mine in recently and got it returned saying the address was not valid. Haven't had a chance to check into it further yet...)
Braille Reading Pals: This club is an early literacy program, sponsored by the Jernigan Institute, that encourages parents to read daily with their blind or low vision children (ages infant to seven).
Participating club members will receive:
A print-Braille book and a plush reading pal
Monthly parent e-newsletter promoting tips for early Braille literacy
Quarterly Braille activity sheets for young children
Braille birthday cards for child participants
Access to a network of resources devoted to serving parents of blind children
Electronic reading log to track the time read with children each day
Subscription to Future Reflections, a publication for parents of blind children
Temple Beth El Braille Bindery: The Temple Beth El Sisterhood Braille Bindery transcribes, embosses and binds books for blind children. They mainly do literary Braille. They do both contracted and contracted Braille. They have over 1024 books in our files that we can duplicate and provide. They supply mainly children's books to schools, libraries, and individuals on a “paper-exchange” basis, without further cost. For more information, send an email to the address listed on their website.
Lending Libraries for Braille Books
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS): This is the Federal Library of Congress service that provides free braille books and audio books to blind patrons. This is a great place to start looking for braille books for your kids, so have your TVI sign you up. And don't forget to check out their NLS Kids Zone for children's books, magazines, and events.
Volunteer Braillists & Tapists, Inc.: VBTI has an extensive braille library with over 2000 titles, of which over 750 are children's books. Their books are available for free to anyone who requests them throughout the USA and Canada.
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF)
Kenneth Jernigan Lending Library Service
18440 Oxnard Street
Tarzana, California 91356
action@actionfund.org
The Kenneth Jernigan Library for Blind Children is a nonprofit charitable foundation, dedicated to the reading pleasure and education of blind children and young adults. The books catalogued in the Library are Brailled by volunteers, who have contributed countless hours of time and effort to bring the total collection of the Library to more than 40,000 Braille books. The Library is unique in that they do not have "walk-in" patrons. Books are selected and then distributed to our patrons solely by mail. Because books are in a continual state of flux, it is impossible to offer a complete catalogue of available books. Library books are distributed free of charge to subscribers. (Up to 2 month time period.)
Braille Circulating Library, Inc.
2700 Stuart Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23220
(804) 359-3743
braille@aol.com
Religious materials in Braille, large print and cassette for 6 week time period.
Christian Record Services, Inc.
4444 South 52nd Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68516
(402) 488-0981 * Fax (402) 488-7582
info@christianrecord.org
Offers 415 Braille titles and 1623 audio tape titles ranging from fiction, adventure, Bible and non-fiction covering all reading levels. (30 day lending)
Resources for Buying Braille Books
National Braille Press (NBP)
88 St. Stephen Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
(617) 266-6160 * (888) 965-8965 * Fax (617) 437-0456
NBP offers a Braille Book-of-the-Month club for young readers. The subscription is $100/year for 13 books. (sign up as a trial to get notices on titles) NBP also offers other Braille books for all age groups. Check the Web site or call for a free catalog. You can also buy Braille Caravan blocks, which allow you to “build” Braille words.
Seedlings: Braille Books for Children
P.O. Box 51924
Livonia, Michigan 48151-5924
(734) 427-8552 * (800) 777-8552 * Fax (734) 427-8552
info@seedlings.org
This is a great place to buy Braille books. Offers print-Braille-and-picture books, print-and-Braille books, uncontracted Braille books, and Braille books for ages up to 14 at a price that is less than it costs to make the book. Also has a great alphabet book called “The Senseational Alphabet”. Free catalog upon request. Also allows you to donate money in someone's name and have a Braille Book inscribed in that person's name, which makes a great teacher gift!
William A. Thomas Braille Bookstore
Braille International, Inc.
3290 Southeast Slater Street
Stuart, Florida 34997
(772) 286-8366 * (888) 336-3142 * Fax (772) 286-8909
info@brailleintl.org
Operates a walk-in and mail-order bookstore for the blind. Free catalog upon request.
American Printing House for the Blind: APH offers some very nice books designed specifically for blind children with lovely tactile illustrations. These books are a bit pricey, though, so it might be a good idea to see if your TVI can get them through quota funds.
BrailleInk: BrailleInk is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the experience of reading by providing materials with both print and braille in a unique, easy-to-use format that encourages shared reading and promotes braille awareness. This organization currently has a limited number of titles available, but they are working to produce more.
Beulah Reimer Legacy: Beulah Reimer Legacy, (BRL), offers print/Braille children's picture books at the affordable cost of five dollars per book. These books are brailled with clear plastic strips which are placed on top of the printed text. Just in time for the Holidays, BRL is also offering a reading grab bag: five fun-reading books for the price of four. This offer begins Oct. 1 and goes through Jan.1.
I read with My hands: A wonderful set of tactile books and activities designed specifically for blind and visually impaired children. If you're tired of the same old "touch and feel" books that present very little tactile feedback for your child, you'll definitely want to check out these amazing books. (These are made in South Africa, and at this time, cannot be shipped to the US unless you can pay with an EFT.)
Braille Bookstore: Great selection of braille books, braille dictionaries, and even braille flash cards. They also carry fun games like braille playing cards or braille dice.
Tactile Vision: Offers a selection of children's braille books that include black and white tactile images. These books are suitable for young Children who are or will be braille readers. These books offer the opportunity to begin the development of tactile reading skills so important in many areas of the School Curriculum. They also offer raised print coloring books.
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