Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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My elderly grandmother used to love reading, is there any way to set up audiobooks so she can run them herself? (self.Blind)
submitted by [deleted]
My 90yo grandmother’s aren’t good enough to read anymore, and she does get lonely from time to time.
She has quite the collection of books, but hadn’t been able to read them for a dozen years now, but I was wondering whether there was a way to have audiobooks available to her where she would be able to choose what was read, and pause/go back if she was interrupted?
I appreciate any advise you can give, though keep in mind she is not very technology literate, as anything that has come out in the last dozen years she hasn’t been able to see properly. I can set it up in advance, but things with touch screens Etc must be mostly useless I suppose.
Thanks in advance!
She has quite the collection of books, but hadn’t been able to read them for a dozen years now, but I was wondering whether there was a way to have audiobooks available to her where she would be able to choose what was read, and pause/go back if she was interrupted?
I appreciate any advise you can give, though keep in mind she is not very technology literate, as anything that has come out in the last dozen years she hasn’t been able to see properly. I can set it up in advance, but things with touch screens Etc must be mostly useless I suppose.
Thanks in advance!
retrolental_morose 4 points 1y ago
Alexa can play audiobooks from Audible or, if in the UK, our national talking book library from the RNIB.
draakdorei 1 points 1y ago
I second using Alexa or similar device. Auiodbooks aside, she can also listen to audiodramas and use the Drop In feature to ask for help or check in with you. It's how I've been reading and listening to audiodramas. Plus it's a bit easier with "rewind 30s" and "forward 3 minutes" voice commands versus a tablet or phone player.
Also, it supports outgoing calls from your phone number, which has been really helpful for me at least.
Google and Apple (I suppose?) have similar devices if you aren't an Apple household.
Also, it supports outgoing calls from your phone number, which has been really helpful for me at least.
Google and Apple (I suppose?) have similar devices if you aren't an Apple household.
Shadowwynd 4 points 1y ago
In the United States, she would be eligible for the free National Library for the Blind. Her state library can help her get set up. You can either get books on an iPad, or if she is not technologically proficient, she can get a "player" that plays USB audiobook cartridges, one cartridge per book (about the size of a cassette tape player).
Wooden_Suit5580 2 points 1y ago
I am totally blind. If she live in the United States check with your local or state department of rehabilitation for certain accessibility devices that can read to you.
I have a device from Humanware called a Victor reader track. It can download audiobooks from the national library service, book share, Daisy. I can also get radio stations from around the world, I can record notes, and I can listen to different podcasts all from this one Dubai The device can also offer GPS directions. This device is not a cell phone. It has raised keys like on the old touchtone telephone. Rather simple to use.
Here is a YouTube video from Humanware that describes the product.
I hope this helps in someway.
https://youtu.be/fNNWnHCfKUg
And there is one little hint that I’m gonna throw out to you. If you search on YouTube for the title of the book that you were looking for and put in the word audiobook, sometimes the video on YouTube is the audiobook that you would find on sites like audible or other places that offer audiobooks.
I have a device from Humanware called a Victor reader track. It can download audiobooks from the national library service, book share, Daisy. I can also get radio stations from around the world, I can record notes, and I can listen to different podcasts all from this one Dubai The device can also offer GPS directions. This device is not a cell phone. It has raised keys like on the old touchtone telephone. Rather simple to use.
Here is a YouTube video from Humanware that describes the product.
I hope this helps in someway.
https://youtu.be/fNNWnHCfKUg
And there is one little hint that I’m gonna throw out to you. If you search on YouTube for the title of the book that you were looking for and put in the word audiobook, sometimes the video on YouTube is the audiobook that you would find on sites like audible or other places that offer audiobooks.
[deleted] [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you for this. I am looking into Daisy now, and watched the video you showed me, and am looking to see if government offers for support for any of the specific options.
The victor reader track does seem like something she could use as well, so thanks for your reply!
The victor reader track does seem like something she could use as well, so thanks for your reply!
KillerLag 2 points 1y ago
Touch screens can be accessible with screen reading software, but there can be quite a learning curve. A number of my clients use iphones as their audio book players.
https://store.humanware.com/hca/victor-reader-stratus12-m-daisy-mp3-player.html
DAISY players are machines that play audio books in the DAISY format. They can be digital downloads, but the more popular ones for older clients are usually on CDs (the books stored in a different format that allows for more control).
While there are a lot of buttons, there is a cover for that specific model that covers more of the buttons, leaving just a few exposed (start/stop, eject, volume up and down). It can also be set to increase/decrease reading speed and pitch, I believe.
Depending on where you live (state/province), your health care provider may also be able to partially cover the cost. Here in Canada, some provinces will cover 75% of the cost.
https://store.humanware.com/hca/victor-reader-stratus12-m-daisy-mp3-player.html
DAISY players are machines that play audio books in the DAISY format. They can be digital downloads, but the more popular ones for older clients are usually on CDs (the books stored in a different format that allows for more control).
While there are a lot of buttons, there is a cover for that specific model that covers more of the buttons, leaving just a few exposed (start/stop, eject, volume up and down). It can also be set to increase/decrease reading speed and pitch, I believe.
Depending on where you live (state/province), your health care provider may also be able to partially cover the cost. Here in Canada, some provinces will cover 75% of the cost.
HeftyCryptographer21 2 points 1y ago
if her cognitive skills are up for it, just download some stuff onto an iPad for her. If she has cognitive issues that prevent that, maybe an old tape recorder or something? I know people with dementia seem to remember how to use old stuff, but not new stuff
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