Audio Books for the Blind

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Tuesday, January 1st, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

In America approximately a million non-institutionalized adults suffer from blindness. There has been a significant improvement of treatment for the visually impaired, this in turn is giving them the opportunity to live as the non-blind people. In 1924 Louis Braille invented a universal system that is used to print and write for blind people. Guide dogs are also trained by professionals, these dogs always guide and defend their visually impaired masters. Veterans returning from the First World War who had lost their sight were also assisted by these professionally trained dogs. Another valuable aid for the blind is the audio book which was created to aid those without sight.

In the year 1931 the history of the audio book for the blind was begun. In that same year the U.S. Congress established The National Library Service for the Visually Impaired and Handicapped (NLS). Thanks to further legislation during the 1950s and 1960s there was incredible growth in the program of audio books for the blind. This was overseen by the Library of Congress government service. The libraries for the blind has grown from 19 in 1931 to an incredible 60 regional and nearly 80 sub-divisional libraries all over the United States.

How does NLS select which books to record as an audio book for the blind? As a general rule these texts are the same selection that can be borrowed from public libraries. Bibliographies or books that have positive reviews in publication and are circulated nationally are the caliber that are considered for recording. The goal of NLS is to provide audio books for the blind that include classics and readings that inform, in addition to entertaining writings that appeal to readers of all ages. Science fiction, mysteries, national bestsellers and westerns would be among the genres selected. Many older adults who become blind in later life really benefit from the variety of audio books. Learning Braille at this stage of life is indeed extremely challenging.

Once the books have been selected, professional narrators are then bought in to record in a contractors studio. The latter group bids yearly on the production of books. These non-profit companies also provide many products and services for the blind. There is also a small number of volunteers that produce audio books for the visually impaired. To remain up-to-date with the latest recording technology, the NLS also sustains a recording studio within its office in Washington D.C.

Reading is a pleasure that most sighted people take for granted. Audio books for the blind open up a whole new world and allow people without vision to have one.

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