Overview
Students from kindergarten through high school who
are blind or have vision loss need textbooks, workbooks, maps and other
educational resources just like any other student. But the school
districts which serve them may only have one or two children who are
blind. Purchasing braille textbooks is often beyond their financial
feasibility. For example, Webster's Dictionary is 72 volumes in braille
and costs $1,381. Or, a student in the fifth grade will only use a
fifth-grade spelling textbook a single year. Then, since it's
unlikely that another student who is blind will be in the fifth grade at
the same school the next year, the textbook will sit, unused, on a
shelf. By the time that particular school system has another
fifth-grader who can use braille textbooks, the books bought previously
will probably be out-of-date.
This is where the Instructional Resource Center
steps in. Using federal and state funds, we purchase or produce the
needed materials, in braille or large print. A student in Huntsville may
use it this year, but next year, it may be reused by another student in
Dothan. We also loan equipment, like braillewriters to help students
learn alternate communication skills.
The books and materials we don't have in stock at
our facility can usually be obtained through the American Printing House
for the Blind or other vendors. If not, we can produce them on site.
Every blind and visually impaired student in Alabama, at public and
private schools, will have access to the books and materials they need
to succeed in school - that's our goal at the Instructional Resource
Center for the Blind.
Active students and clients of AIDB programs are
also eligible for these services, as are visually impaired clients of
the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the Alabama State Department
of Education.
Teachers may click here to register a new student.
Teachers may click here to order books and supplies.
National Library Service SubRegional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Anyone of any age who is blind, has vision loss or
is physically unable to read regular books can sign up to take
advantage of the federal talking books program, officially called the
National Library Service/Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped. This program was established in 1934, and books on cassette
were made available in the 1960s.
The National Library Service program for residents
of Talladega, Coosa and St. Clair Counties is located here at AIDB, in
the Library and Instructional Resource Center. Our staff processes
applications, fills book and descriptive video requests, and coordinates
services for this area.
The Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped is free, funded annually by Congress. Books are selected to
appeal to a wide range of interests, including bestsellers, biographies,
fiction and how-to books. Magazines are also produced on audio discs
and in braille. There are more than 70 titles available, and registered
readers can receive free monthly subscriptions to magazines like Good Housekeeping, U.S. News and World Report, Consumer Reports, Jack and Jill, Sports Illustrated and many others.
Equipment and accessories are also available for
loan through the program. This may include playback equipment, a remote
control for readers with limited mobility, or an auxiliary amplifier for
use with headphones for readers who are hard of hearing.
Many music titles are also provided as part of
this service. The national music collection is the largest of its kind
in the world, with more than 30,000 items. This includes scores in
braille and large print, textbooks and books about music in large print
and braille. Also available are recordings of elementary instruction
for voice, piano, organ, guitar, recorder, accordion, banjo and
harmonica.
If you wish to apply for library services click here to
request an application. You will need to fill out the form and have it
signed by your doctor or other healthcare provider to certify that you
are eligible for these services. Mail the form to AIDB Library and
Resource Center, Post Office Box 698, Talladega, AL 35161. We are located at 705 E. South Street. On
the form, tell us about your reading habits and your preferences in
books and magazines. We can select titles based on your interests if you
like; we keep a record of what has already been sent to you so we don't
send material you've already read. If you prefer, we will only send you
titles you specifically request.
The playback equipment, talking books, cassettes
or braille books will all be sent by mail. You have eight weeks before
materials are due back. You can return the materials by mail, with no
postage charge, just by marking it "free reading material for the
blind." If you need to renew your material, you can call 800-848- 4722
for an extension.
If you're already registered as an NLS Subregional Library patron, click here to
search for books online. You may do an author, title, subject or
keyword search, then paste the book information into an email to us. Be
sure to include the book title and author, or the book number.