Disability Resources
The following links are provided as resources for information related to blindness, visual impairment, or other physical disabilities that result in an inability to read printed matter. These resources are not maintained by the New York State Library and the Library has no control over their content or availablity.
Federal Government Resources
- National Library Service
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS): A division of the Library
of Congress, NLS administers a free library program of braille and recorded
materials, which are circulated to eligible borrowers through a network of
cooperating libraries such as the New York State Talking Book and Braille
Library.
- Search the National
Library Service catalog: This Web-based form allows you to search the
NLS catalog for braille and audio books that are currently available and/or
in production. To order materials found in this catalog, contact the cooperating
network library from which you receive your library service. For collections
other than NLS, contact the holding agency directly. (Note: Links are provided
on the page for Voyager
and Text interfaces to the NLS catalog.)
- NLS
Kids Zone - Kids Catalog: Find audio, braille, and print/braille books
for preschool through grade 8 in the NLS catalog.
- Talking
Book Topics: A bimonthly newsletter that lists recorded magazines and
books that have recently been added to the NLS collection.
- Braille
Book Review: A bimonthly newsletter that lists braille magazines and
books that have recently been added to the NLS collection. Available in
HTML or plain text.
- Web
Braille - "Web-Braille is an Internet, web-based service that provides, in an electronic format, many braille books, some music scores, and all braille magazines produced by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)."
- Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) Home Page: The ADA prohibits discrimination
on the basis of disability in employment, programs and services provided by
state and local governments, goods and services provided by private companies,
and in commercial facilities. This site is maintained by the U.S. Department
of Justice, which provides technical assistance and enforcement for ADA.
- U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs: This site provides information on VA programs, veterans benefits,
VA facilities worldwide, and VA medical automation software.
New York State Resources
- Office of Vocational and Educational
Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID): Part of the NYS Education
Department, VESID oversees special education services for students in public
and private schools, provides vocational rehabilitation services (e.g. vocational
assessment, vocational counseling, and job training and placement), and administers
15 Early Childhood Direction Centers and 38 Independent Living Centers.
-
The New
York State Commission for the Blind and Visually
Handicapped (CBVH): Part of the NYS Department of
Family Services, CBVH provides rehabilitation services to
individuals who are legally blind and reside in New York
State.
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles: Access the New York State Driver's Manual in MP3 Audio Format (available in English and Spanish). NOTE: You must have audio software that can play MP3 files.
-
NYS Office for
the Aging: This Web site has provides information to
older New Yorkers, their families, and those concerned
about providing opportunities and services to enrich the
lives of older people and support their independence.
- NYS Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities: The Commission now includes NYS Office of Advocate for
Persons with Disabilities. It is an independent, New York State government agency charged with improving the quality of life for New Yorkers with disabilities and protecting their rights .
-
Cornucopia of
Disability Information: Based at the University of
Buffalo, this site serves as a community resource for
consumers and professionals by providing disability
information in a wide variety of areas. The site provides
information on topics such as education, government
documents, computer access, legal issues, aging,
assistive technology, and universal design for local
(Buffalo and western NY), state, national and
international audiences.
-
New York State
Government Information Locator Service: A point of
access to information services provided by New York State
Government agencies, the State Legislature and the
Judiciary.
- American Printing House for
the Blind: This organization promotes independence of blind and visually
impaired people by providing special media, tools and materials needed for
education and life. Also on this site: APH: Louis Database of Accessible Materials:
Louis is a database that provides users with a centralized source
of information about accessible media materials, including more than 145,000
titles of books, music, and educational materials for people who are blind
or visually impaired. There are several search options, including one that
is "streamlined for speech users."
- The National Information
Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) features a New York State Resources page.
An Organizations Database lists national organizations in a searchable database.
- Recording for the Blind &
Dyslexic (RFB&D): RFB&D provides educational materials on tape for people
with print disabilities. Their collection includes over 77,000 taped textbooks
(for students in kindergarten through post-graduate studies), reference books
and professional materials. There is an annual fee to use the service.
- Radio Reading Services: This page
lists radio stations throughout New York State that broadcast programs for
blind and print-disabled people. Programs generally include readings of local
and national newspapers, magazines, and sometimes books.
- HotBraille: You can
compose a message on the HotBraille Web site and they will transcribe your
message in Braille and send it to the address you provide, using a "Free Matter
for the Blind" stamp. HotBraille's service is free to users.
- Braille Plus, Inc.:
Braille Plus is a fee-based service that will convert print documents to alternative
formats, including braille, large print, audio tape or electronic format.
- Equal Access to Software
and Information (EASI): A resource for information about adaptive computer
technology, particularly as it relates to education (K-12 schools, colleges,
libraries and the workplace).
- National Information Center
for Children and Youth with Disabilities: NICHCY is a national information
and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related
issues for families, educators, and other professionals. Their special focus
is children and youth (birth to age 22).
- The New York Institute
for Special Education (NYISE): NYISE is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian
educational facility which provides quality programs for children who are
blind or visually disabled, children who are emotionally and learning disabled,
and preschoolers who are developmentally delayed.
- New York State Disability vote
project - "One of its primary purposes is to ensure that all of our
citizens have the opportunity to vote privately and independently, including
citizens with disabilities.
- HEATH Resource
Center (Higher Education and the Handicapped): A national clearinghouse
on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities.
- Lions Clubs International:
The International Association of Lions Clubs, one of the largest service organization
in the world, raises funds for charitable giving with a major focus on sight
conservation. Lions programs range from purchasing eyeglass for a child who's
parents can't afford them to multimillion dollar programs to cure blindness
on a worldwide scale.
- Project ACTION Accessible
Traveler's Database: Users can search a database of accessible transit
services in the United States.
- Guidedog Foundation for
the Blind: A not-for-profit organization that provides guide dogs free
of charge to blind people who seek enhanced mobility and independence.
- The Seeing Eye:
Its mission is to help blind people achieve greater independence, dignity
and self-confidence through the use of Seeing Eye dogs. The Seeing Eye dog
guide school, which is located in New Jersey, teaches Seeing Eye dogs to guide
blind people; breeds and raises or obtains the dogs by purchase or gift; teaches
instructors the science and technique of training dogs as guides for blind
people; instructs blind people in the proper use and handling of the dogs;
and educates the public about the role of dog guides and the capability of
blind people for independent living.
- LD Online: Learning Disabilities Information
and Resources - "the interactive guide to learning disabilities for parents,
teachers, and other professionals." The monthly newsletter, LD
Online Report, has useful information for all of these groups.
- Suggested Reading Lists:
- Braille Bug - New from
the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). "Visit AFB's new kids' channel,
created to teach sighted children about braille and to encourage literacy
among all children. Kids, parents, and teachers who visit can play braille
games, learn about Louis Braille and Helen Keller, and even send a secret
message to a friend. (Designed for children in grades three through six. )
- Funding Beyond High School: Audio Highlights - This site "will introduce you to critical information for you to consider as you prepare for education after high school. It will also introduce you to other resources—Web sites and Braille and print publications—resources that provide more details relating to each topic.." See also Student Aid on the Web.
- Free Braille Books
Program - from the American
Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults.
- Home Education Magazine's Homeschooling
Information and Resource Pages
- The Metropolitan
Museum of Art - Events & Programs: Programs for Visitors with Disabilities
- NNCC Eight Ways Parents
Can Promote Reading at Home - from the National Network for Childcare
(NNCC)
- Special
Education in New York State for Children Ages 3–21, A Parent’s Guide -
from the New York State Education Department, Vocational and Educational Services
for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID).
- Videos Available for Loan - A small number
of videos are available for loan from our library. Teachers may borrow
them to use in a classroom setting or when working with students on units
about diversity or blindness/visual impairments.
- EdVideo Online - from WMHT - A "digital video service, free to all New York State K-12 and Adult Literacy teachers and their students! ... You can use EdVideo Online to stream, download, create lessons, and quizzes plus access PBS programs and podcasts."
- World Book Encyclopedia
Articles in Braille - Available through the Rose Project from Seedlings
Braille Books for Children, the encyclopedia articles service is offered free
of charge for blind students in grades 1-12.
- American Council of the Blind:
This site provides general information about the Council, including recent
issues of its monthly publication, The Braille Forum.
- American Foundation
for the Blind (AFB): The AFB is a national resource for people who are
blind or visually impaired, the organizations that serve them, and the general
public. The AFB focuses on nonmedical aspects of blindness and visual impairment,
including developing and disseminating information, identifying issues that
are critical to those who are blind or visually impaired, and educating policy
makers and the general public.
- Canadian National Institute
for the Blind: A Canadian organization that helps blind, visually impaired,
and deafblind Canadians survive - and thrive - in a sighted world.
- LD Online: Learning Disabilities
Information and Resources - "the interactive guide to learning disabilities
for parents, teachers, and other professionals." The monthly newsletter, LD
Online Report, has useful information for all of these groups.
- Learning Disabilities
Association of America (LDA): A national, non-profit, volunteer organization,
LDA is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all individuals with
learning disabilities and their families, to alleviating the restricting effects
of learning disabilities, and to supporting endeavors to determine the causes
of learning disabilities. LDA seeks to accomplish these goals through advocacy,
education, research and service, and through collaborative efforts.
- National Federation of the
Blind (NFB): This organization has two goals: to help blind people achieve
self-confidence and self-respect, and to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression
of people who are blind. NFB provides public education about blindness, information
and referral services, scholarships, literature and publications about blindness,
aids and appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind, advocacy services
and protection of civil rights, Job Opportunities for the Blind, development
and evaluation of technology, and support for blind persons and their families.
Also includes Newsline, a free
service to those who cannot read regular newsprint.
- National Association for
the Visually Handicapped (NAVH): NAVH is a non-profit health agency that
is solely dedicated to providing assistance to the visually impaired.
Internet and E-Text Resources
- Bookshare.org:
This is a "web-based system supplying accessible books in digital formats designed for people with disabilities. These digital formats are the NISO/DAISY XML-based format for the next generation of talking books, and the BRF format for Braille devices and printers. Access to copyrighted books from Bookshare.org is limited to people with bona fide print disabilities and the schools and nonprofit organizations serving them.
- Disability
Resources Monthly: A guide to disability resources on the Internet.
- Electronic
Texts: Selected Sites: A sampling of the e-text resources on the World
Wide Web. This link is part of the New York State Library's Internet
Bibliographies.
- HELP Read: This speech
reader, created by the Hawaii Education Literacy Project (HELP), can be downloaded
for free. It can read Web pages, MS Word documents and text files.
- The Poetry
Archive: A searchable collection of recordings of poets reading their
work. There are links to educational
resources, including those for teachers seeking to utilize the contents of
the site in their classroom and for those looking for a brief introduction
to reading poetry.
- SETI-Search: An accessible,
"speech friendly" interface to several popular search engines.
- TV-now - Powered by TV Guide, this site offers television listings, customizable for your local area, that can be read or downloaded.
- Wired for Books -
This site contains audio files of over 100 famous author interviews, conducted
by Don Swaim for CBS Radio in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. There are also some
audio files of poems, stories and other works of literature. (In RealAudio
format.)