How do visually impaired or blind people read? The answer is, they can use e-books or magnifiers to read regular books, but many of us often use audiobooks and braille.
In this article, I will explore different techniques by which we can interact with books and other types of media, along with the benefits and challenges linked to each method.
You can also watch my video regarding this subject.
Audiobooks
These methods mentioned above are both excellent ways to consume books, as they allow a person to enjoy and experience the material more while also completing other tasks. They can increase productivity and reduce strain on the eyes, which is why I still find myself bumping up the speed to 1.3x or higher in my own experience. Audiobooks, which usually come coupled with an e-book, are typically read by an actual person, but there is no additional cost for the reader. Text-to-speech is also usually available with e-books.
If you are a member of Amazon Prime, I recommend that you download Audible, an app that allows you to borrow e-books and audiobooks from various libraries using library cards or registering through the Libby app. Additionally, you can find audiobooks available for streaming on Nook Audiobooks, Apple Books, Google Play, and other platforms, including some titles included in Amazon Prime’s Audible.
E-Books
The Share Book website offers free access to e-books for students with disabilities such as dyslexia, low vision, and blindness. In order to access these e-books, you may need to provide documentation of your disability, such as a counselor or doctor’s note. This website, called Share Book, is similar to apps like Google Books and Kindle on Amazon, where I can easily find and access books. Depending on my situation and the specific case, I vary in how much I read, but I often enjoy reading for my own pleasure.
The reader of available apps on the Play Store and the App Store offers hundreds of apps.
To consume a substantial quantity of information, I employed the text-to-voice function with the pace accelerated to 1.5x or beyond. Moon+ Reader served as my personal reading tool and it also possessed a read aloud capability. Both Google Books and Yuzu offered read aloud text-to-voice functionalities, which I utilized for academic literature. For assigned readings, including textbooks, I relied on Google Books and Amazon Kindle. I accessed the Barns and Noble Yuzu Reader App and browser site as my educational institution utilized Barns and Noble as its primary book provider. Whenever feasible, I resorted to e-books while attending school.
This text-to-speech feature is also available on Apple Books. However, Kindle does not have this feature, even though it has a vast library of audiobooks. Kindle has partnered with Audible, which has a massive audiobook collection.
With Moon+ Reader available on both Android and iOS devices, you have the option to utilize Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on your computer to have books in PDF format read out to you. To access this application, you can obtain it from the Adobe website. However, it’s important to note that Adobe Reader Touch does not offer this particular functionality. While these are the software options I am most acquainted with, there are likely various other programs accessible for this purpose.
I utilize the Android app that supports the transfer of my books to my tablet and phone. I also use this program to sort and organize my books. This program is meant to serve as a catalogue for your e-book collection, providing tools to create and export your own server content, convert from one format to another, and download metadata. This program also allows users to remotely connect to their own server content and convert from one format to another, download metadata, and create and export their own server content. It is a useful tool for e-book users.
You can download Calibre from their website here. It is compatible with Windows (32 bit and 64 bit), MacOS, and Linux.
Calibre Companion can be located on Android here and on iOS here.
DAISY
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) led an effort called DAISY, which represents Digital Accessible Information System. This effort seeks to offer audio books and players to individuals who are blind and unable to read printed materials. Additional details on the functionality of DAISY can be obtained directly from the NFB.
Podcasts
You can find podcasts on many platforms such as Radio TuneIn Casts, Pocket Podcasts Apple Spotify, and Music Play Google, but my preferred podcast app is Podcasts Google. They are fantastic for catching up on news or hearing an inspirational or uplifting story as you commute or go about your day. In the past few years, Podcasts have become prolific, offering a wide range of topics that fit your interests. Personally, I have used podcasts for years on and off to stay updated on current research and news. Podcasts cover various topics such as fictional stories, personal anecdotes, current research, interviews, and news. They are similar to audiobooks but usually shorter.
When I need to read a book, I often use other methods. These days, I have fond memories of using a book light or flashlight to read, as the overhead lights often blocked my face and the angled light between the pages. As a teenager and child, I managed to read so many books without a digital magnifier. I’m not sure how to describe the fondness I have for the smell of a book or the turn of a page. I’ve heard many people describe it fondly as well. Most of us grew up purchasing books from a store or accessing them from the local library or school. It’s whether people have access to this format that determines what they’re most familiar with. Traditional print books are the standard course.
A digital magnifier is a device that allows you to alter the colors and enlarge the text of a book on its screen. It can be a useful option if you often read or study in the same room and already carry a laptop, as these devices tend to be more portable than dedicated full-size options. Another option is a larger device with a mounted camera, which can also be handy if you need a full-size monitor. I have written an entire post about what a digital handheld magnifier is.
There are many different styles of magnifiers that you can find to suit your reading needs and preferences. One option is a full sheet magnifier, which covers a larger area but has less power of magnification. This type of magnifier can be held in the hand and does not require a light. Another option is a handheld magnifier, which is similar to a typical magnifying glass but without the handle. It can be used to read a single line at a time or for long, narrow lines of text. There are also magnifiers that resemble the shape of a snow globe, but these do not have the same magnification power as other types.
Apps that I suggest for this purpose are: it is essential and logical to scan the book. I believe that scanning the book is necessary and rational. I do not support the unauthorized copying of books, but in situations where a publisher does not offer an electronic version of a purchased book, these applications are precise and capable of compiling the entire book into a PDF file similar to one you would buy. In such instances, I have utilized a scanner or a scanning application on my Android phone. I have encountered textbooks that I absolutely could not locate an electronic book edition of. Another alternative I have employed is scanning a book and saving it as a PDF file.
Braille
Today, I would love to have the opportunity to learn Braille. Although I was never further pursued it, I was fascinated with this tactile alphabet when I attended a two-week camp for blind children at my state’s school. As a child, I was exposed to Braille because I had a teacher who was visually impaired, but I don’t have much direct experience with Braille here because I attended a public school without the use of Braille. If you can find more information on that, I would appreciate it. It was adapted from a military language called Writing Night. Braille is a tactile alphabet consisting of raised dots that was created by a young French man named Louis in the 1800s.
There are a few other options for consuming media, such as using ZoomText or built-in screen readers on Mac and Windows OS, which allow you to read with another person.
For the time being, continue to read, maintain your curiosity, and thank you for reading.