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Literacy
The written word is an important part of everyday life. The inability to read and the inability to write is nothing more nor less than functional illiteracy. Literacy involves the ability to access written information, to communicate with others, and to avoid the feeling of being cut off from the world. Below is a list of resources available to help keep people staying connected.
Reading
American Foundation for the Blind - reading and writing
Braille
A form of reading and writing using raised dots read by using your fingertips. It is not a language but a code using an arrangment of 6 dots in a set matrix that allows you to read, and write, in any language.
Why Braille is Important - the opinion of someone visually impaired
Braille - a good answer to illiteracy
Braille Plus, LLC
Braille: literary, foreign language; spiral binding; computer-produced; can accept material in print or disk. Other information: commercial, fee for service, guarantee 100% accuracy.
P.O. Box 1104, Gilbert, AZ 85297
(480) 782-0223 fax (480) 782-0267
Desert Volunteer Braille Guild
c/o The Foundation for Blind Children
Braille: literary, textbooks, math, French, Spanish; thermoforming; spiral binding; computer-produced; software (MicroBraille, Pokadot, Ed-It PC, and text conversion for MegaDots and Duxbury). Large print: general, math, music, textbooks, computer science, foreign languages; spiral binding; by digital copying and enlarging
1235 East Harmont Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85020
(602) 331-1470/(602) 678-5810/(6002) 678-5816
National Braille Press - a nonprofit braille printer and publisher offering braille books, magazines, textbooks, tests, and embossing services.
National Federation of the Blind - Braille resources
Seedlings Braille Books for Children - a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy by providing high quality, low cost braille books for children. They offer 2 free books for blind children each year!
Talking Books - a free library service available to U.S. citizens whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes it difficult to read a standard printed page. Talking Books' books are recorded on tape cassettes. Participating libraries mail the material (audio books and equipment) free of charge.
Trinity Braille Ministry
Braille: literary, music, United Methodist literature; thermoforming; spiral binding; embossing. Sponsors transcribing classes, maintains book-master collection.
Trinity United Methodist Church
3104 West Glendale Avenue,
Phoenix, AZ 85051
(602) 973-1415
Listening
Accessible World - seeking to educate by providing highly relevant information about new products, services, and training opportunities
Audio Description - this website collects and provides information on audio description in all its forms: live theatre, television, movies, DVDs, and more.
Recorded Recreational Reading for the Blind
Recording: general, local news and recreational material; open-reel masters; 4-track cassette duplication
9447 North 99th Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85345
(602) 933-0985
RFB&D Recording Studio
Recording: educational texts for students in kindergarten through postgraduate studies; 4-track cassette duplication.
3627 East Indian School Road, Suite 108, Phoenix, AZ 85018
(602) 468-9144 fax (602) 553-0226
Sun Sounds of Arizona - provides free access to print for the print impaired via radio, Internet and telephone. The service gives listeners access to newspapers, best sellers, electronic ads, local grocery ads and so much more.
Writing
Braillers
These are manual or electronic machines allowing users to key out pages of Braille.
Computers
Computers allow special programs (i.e. Jaws) to "read" emails, webpages, word processing, spreadsheet documents.