We often receive calls
inquiring about where to obtain a product or service. In response to
those inquiries, the following list has been compiled. This list is
by no means complete. Be advised that the listing of a vendor on
this page does not constitute an endorsement. Remember that there
are many vendors who sell the products listed. It is necessary to do a
product search on the internet and contact several vendors in order
to do comparative shopping. It is impossible to list all products.
Click on the link to be taken to the respective web sites of these
organizations.
American Printing House for the Blind
Founded in 1858, the APH manufactures Braille, large
type, recorded, computer disk, and tactile graphic publications, as
well as a wide assortment of educational and daily living products.
The APH also offers a variety of services to assist consumers and
professionals in the field of vision, such as Louis, A a database
listing materials available in accessible media from organizations
across North America. For more information on the wide variety of
services and products provided by the APH, click on the link above.
ARAER
(Arkansas Association for the Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired)
Library for the Blind
(501) 682-1155 Offers library books in recorded
form and some books in Braille at no cost to consumers with reading
disabilities.
Division of Services for the Blind
(501) 682-5463: Provides job training and
assistance, and assistance in the acquisition of skills for
independent living to Arkansans who are visually impaired.
Lions World Services
(501) 664-7100, (800) 248-0734: A comprehensive
rehabilitation center offering job placement services and
instruction in the acquisition of independent living skills.
Arkansas Radio Reading Services for the Blind
Broadcasts readings of local and national
newspapers and magazines daily over special television or radio
channels to provide independent access to current information for
print-handicapped individuals. For information, call Radio Reading
Services for the Blind Network at 501-852-5125 or outside Little
Rock 1-800-645-8125
American Foundation for the Blind
Provides information on visual impairment and
sells Braille and large print materials, games, and a wide variety
of adaptive products for persons who are visually impaired.
Braille Bug
This is a fun website created by the American
Foundation For The Blind to promote Braille awareness as well as
give sighted children the opportunity to learn how Braille works.
There is helpful information here for both children and adults.
National Federation of the Blind
An organized consumer group of persons with
visual impairments which works to assist persons who are visually
impaired through legislation and education; this organization offers
a wide variety of adaptive materials and aids.
American Council of the Blind
An organized consumer group of persons with
visual impairments which works to assist persons who are visually
impaired through legislation and education; this organization offers
a wide variety of adaptive materials and aids.
National Braille Press
Offers a variety of books for young children and
adults. The Children’s Braille Book Club produces a Braille-print
book each month for readers from preschool to 4th grade. These books
feature the entire print text and pictures with the addition of a
clear plastic sheet for the brailled text. Some of the books also
have tactile drawings. National Braille Press carries several
self-help books (from recipes to computer manuals) as well as other
popular literature such as "Harry Potter."
Seedlings Braille Books For Children
Is perhaps best known for the variety of
Twin-Vision board books they produce for young readers. Many of the
"Touch And Feel" books found at your local bookstore can be found at
Seedlings, with the addition of Braille placed on clear labels onto
the book. They also offer a few Scratch-and-Sniff books and
occasionally a sound-book or two. Seedlings also offers books for
older readers; some of which are double-spaced in Braille with the
print text just above the brailled line. Seedlings also carries the
magnetic letters from Playschool which feature Braille on them. They
have some novelty items promoting Braille literacy such as shirts
and brailled key-chains.
Exceptional Teaching Aids
Offers not only supplies for teachers, but some
things that parents might find useful as well. You can buy Braille
alphabet blocks which feature both the print and Braille letters.
They also have two "Touch And Color" coloring books with raised-line
drawings. They offer anti-roll crayons which you may buy to
accompany these books. The flat side is great for placing a Braille
label to identify the color for the blind user.
Braille Bibles International
Offers a Braille Bible, free of charge, to
families having Braille readers. There are two Bibles, written just
for children, to choose from--the Beginners Bible and the Children’s
Bible. The Beginner’s Bible is for preschool-age children and
contains the entire print text and pictures, with the addition of
plastic sheets displaying the Braille. The Children’s Bible is
Braille-only, for ages 6-11, containing 365 stories.
Freedom Scientific
Manufactures "JAWS" screen readers, "Braille'n
Speak," a Braille note taker and "Open Book" text scanning software.
Both products are used by many persons with visual impairments.
GWMicro
Manufactures screen magnification programs and
"Window-eyes," an excellent screen reading program.
Independent Living Aids
Sells a number of products for use by
persons with visual impairments.
Humanware
Sells a multitude of products including screen
reading software, screen magnification programs, "Braillenote," a
Braille note taker, Braille embossers, Braille translation software
and numerous talking aids.
Accessing PDF Files
Click this link to download the "Adobe Acrobat
Program" which enables persons with visual impairments to read PDF
files with speech.
