Jan 9th 2008, 06:46

Free Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Easy access to materials

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) was launched by the Congress back in 1931 to serve blind adults and has been revised to expand its coverage to children and people with other physical disabilities that keep them from reading standard print.

Braille books and magazines, audio books or talking books, and specially-designed playback players (phonographs and cassette) are lent free-of-charge to those who are physically handicapped and can't read standard print materials. Music materials are also available.

The NLS distributes the materials to regional and local libraries which, in turn, lend the materials to eligible borrowers for free. What's great about this program is it makes the materials conveniently accessible to the borrowers through these free services:

• Sending and returning of borrowed materials through postage-free mail;

• Online access to materials like Braille books, magazines, and music materials through Web-Braille; and

• Services also offered to US citizens living abroad.

NLS gets its funding to buy materials and finance operating expenses, while the regional and local libraries get financial support from federal, state, local funds. These funds are used to make sure library materials can be accessed by people like the following:

• Blind persons with 20/200 vision or less in the better eye with correcting lenses

• Other physically handicapped persons with these conditions:

• Has visual disability,

• Unable to read or use standard printed material because of physical limitations, and

• Has a reading disability.

Eligible persons can get application forms from regional and local libraries across the country. The form must be signed by an authorized person to certify that the applicant's physical condition is keeping him or her from reading standard print materials.

For persons with blindness, paralysis, loss of arms or hands, extreme weakness, or palsy, they can be certified by health care, education or rehabilitation professionals. On the other hand, those who are classified as reading disabled must be certified by competent medical authority.

To know more about this program, you may visit their website at: http://www.loc.gov/nls/. You can also give them a call through 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) or 1-202-707-0744 (TTD).

 

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