Assistive Services
Resources for the Blind & Visually Impaired During COVID-19 Outbreak
Provided by The AdaptiVision, Inc. Team
Work & Education
- The Carroll Center for the Blind’s individualized remote instruction on employment, travel, daily living, and the use of technologies
- Distance learning and educational content through Aira, ObjectiveEd and Accessibyte
- Free Live Course series from the Assistive Technology Industry Association on education (including remote learning) during COVID-19
- National homework hotline for blind & visually impaired students from VISTAS Education Partners
Health & Wellness
- Paid & free workouts, tips and ideas from Eyes-Free Fitness, Aaptiv, ReVision Fitness, Hadley/s Get Up & Go, and the US Association of Blind Athletes
- Medically informed yoga
- Headspace’s meditation app
- Guide dog and pet safety information from the American Foundation for the Blind
News & Entertainment
- Key information on the pandemic plus resources for older adults and people with disabilities from the Administration for Community Living
- Accessible news and information through Apple
- Accessible statistics tracker
- Accessible books (paid & free) through Audible and Apple Books
- AFB survey investigating the experiences of adults who are blind or have low vision during the COVID-19 pandemic
- ATandMe’s list of how to use technology creatively during COVID-19
Transportation & Logistics
- Tips on transportation and getting essentials like prescriptions on the Blindy Blog
- AFB’s article on accessible grocery and food delivery services
- Eldercare Locator for finding help in your area
ASSISTIVE SERVICES
Resources for the Visually & Hearing Impaired
Vision
- Large Print books: Thousands of titles available from the Eastham Library collection and delivered from other CLAMS libraries
- Digital Talking Book Player players are available for loan to listen to audio books (for use with USB flash drive cartridges provided by the library, the Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library and through a BARD library account)
- Loanable digital audio books (Perkins School for the Blind catalog) and volunteers to help BARD library card holders download books directly to a cartridge
- Optelec ClearReader+ Rediscover the joy of reading anytime and anywhere. Within a few seconds, the ClearReader+ scans any magazine articles and reads them to you in naturally sounding voices. Portable.
- Optelec ClearView C Speech The new Optelec ClearView C Speech is a unique desktop video magnifier that is designed to improve your reading experience. Select your preferred reading voice and sit back, relax, and listen to documents as they are read aloud. Combining a clear voice with magnification or high contrast makes reading so much easier.
- ZoomText screen magnifier software on all pc’s in the reading room
- ZoomText USB flash drive to use on personal laptops (in-library use). Take your ZoomText anywhere
- Ruby handheld video magnifier Ruby manual
- TOPAZ PHD lightweight video magnifier – a 15 inch portable desktop video magnifier that folds away like a laptop
The library’s equipment for the visually impaired has been generously funded by the
Edward Bangs Kelley and Elza Kelley Foundation
Hearing
- Listen RF stationary transmitter and portable receivers (works with Telecoil) in the Gregory S. Turner Meeting Room
- Listen RF portable transmitter (works with Telecoil) for use in the Small Conference Room and other small meeting rooms
- Williams Sound Counter Loop (works with Telecoil)for assistance at the Circulation Desk
Training
- Volunteers associated with the VITAL Program at Brooks Free Library
- Training, assistance and cartridges with cases for download digital audio books (with a personal BARD account)