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How to help my visually impaired aunt listen to audiobooks with more ease? (self.Blind)
submitted by seeyouatthemovies4
My aunt is 84 and is visually impaired. She loves reading, especially mysteries, so she listens to audiobooks. However, the way she listens to them sounds complicated. From my understanding, her daughter will bring a catalog, read descriptions of books, and then order them for my aunt to listen to. Apparently sometimes the company sends the wrong books? It seems very complicated.
So I am looking for a solution to help her out.
Would an Amazon Echo work well? My only concern is that she would have to have Audible or like the Echo app on her phone correct? I don't remember if she has a smartphone even. So my next question is, would it be possible if I have the app on my phone but connected to her Echo and it still works? Maybe even if I'm not with her? Does anyone have experience with that?
Or if you know of a different solution.
I just want it to be easier on her because she is 84, she is not tech savvy, and she doesn't get that many visitors :( I live out of her town so I can't see her often. My grandmother (her sister) is usually her main visitor, and my grandma does have an Echo dot so she could always help out as well. All of her kids live out of town. One of her sons recently passed away so I think she could use a pick me up.
Any help is appreciated! Also, if this is not accessible (from my understanding it should be?) then do what you need to do lol.
So I am looking for a solution to help her out.
Would an Amazon Echo work well? My only concern is that she would have to have Audible or like the Echo app on her phone correct? I don't remember if she has a smartphone even. So my next question is, would it be possible if I have the app on my phone but connected to her Echo and it still works? Maybe even if I'm not with her? Does anyone have experience with that?
Or if you know of a different solution.
I just want it to be easier on her because she is 84, she is not tech savvy, and she doesn't get that many visitors :( I live out of her town so I can't see her often. My grandmother (her sister) is usually her main visitor, and my grandma does have an Echo dot so she could always help out as well. All of her kids live out of town. One of her sons recently passed away so I think she could use a pick me up.
Any help is appreciated! Also, if this is not accessible (from my understanding it should be?) then do what you need to do lol.
carolineecouture 5 points 1y ago
She can just use the Echo device, she doesn't need the Audible app on her phone. The Echo can play her books directly. You or her sister could set up an Audible/Amazon account for her and then set up the smart speaker.
She would just ask the speaker to read the audible book. She can say "previous/next chapter" or tell it to go forward or back using minutes. She can even set up a sleep timer so it plays for a certain amount of time and then shuts off.
If she's not tech-savvy you will have to manage the account for her. She can purchase books using the speaker if she has any audible credits. She would just say echo purchase audible book.
I had inflammation after an eye surgery and couldn't see for about a month. I was home and used the smart speaker for everything, including news, alarms, and timers. Audible worked really well for me.
She'd need to have wifi and having someone around to help out with learning how it works and setting up the library would be a great idea.
Good luck!
She would just ask the speaker to read the audible book. She can say "previous/next chapter" or tell it to go forward or back using minutes. She can even set up a sleep timer so it plays for a certain amount of time and then shuts off.
If she's not tech-savvy you will have to manage the account for her. She can purchase books using the speaker if she has any audible credits. She would just say echo purchase audible book.
I had inflammation after an eye surgery and couldn't see for about a month. I was home and used the smart speaker for everything, including news, alarms, and timers. Audible worked really well for me.
She'd need to have wifi and having someone around to help out with learning how it works and setting up the library would be a great idea.
Good luck!
[deleted] 4 points 1y ago
Try Libby it’s a library app, and you can connect her phone/iPad to a echo dot without the echo app I do that
PrincessDie123 2 points 1y ago
This, I use Libby and my local library has a digital catalog I can set it to only show audiobooks!
CaneVeritas 2 points 1y ago
Good evening! I am a huge fan of the Libby app. So much so that I formed a library digital resources share group - we all share access to various libraries - some of us don’t have convenient access to large digital collections, so sharing benefits us all. There are libraries in 75+ countries that work with Libby - there are opportunities for more and more of us who are blind, Blind and/or experiencing other challenges or disabilities to enjoy greater access to audiobooks, ebooks and other digital resources - it all depends on what the libraries are offering and it’s all free. Everyone is welcome to participate.
There’s also a new sub for Libby and sharing discussions: r/LibbyLibby. Feel free to drop-in and participate, especially if the use of the Libby app is really useful to you. Have an amazing evening!
Click on the link for an audio version of this message:
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There’s also a new sub for Libby and sharing discussions: r/LibbyLibby. Feel free to drop-in and participate, especially if the use of the Libby app is really useful to you. Have an amazing evening!
Click on the link for an audio version of this message:
$1
PrincessDie123 1 points 1y ago
Oh wow that’s really cool thanks!
CaneVeritas 2 points 1y ago
It started out as a mindless project, but in these past 2-3 years it just seems to make sense to share the love and operate from a place of abundance…
Have a great night!
Have a great night!
astrolurus 3 points 1y ago
If this is the NLS service, there is an Alexa app and also her daughter can buy a cartridge for the player and load it up with the books herself using BARD (she can use BARD express if she has a windows computer, otherwise it’s not too hard to figure out), which cuts out the middleman. She might also enjoy an old victor reader stream (if she doesn’t use a smartphone) for portability, you can load DAISY files onto it via computer.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
No idea they even have it on alexa this is actually pretty neat.
astrolurus 1 points 1y ago
Actually that’s completely wrong, I have no idea why I said that- they have NFB newsline for alexa and just added a skill for bookshare, which is what I must have been thinking of- so sorry!
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 1y ago
I see that’s interesting well at least they have bookshare and newsline would be cool if nls and libraries were on there. Their audio collections.
astrolurus 1 points 1y ago
Agreed, even if they just let you download and listen to books from your wish list or something.
Eviltechnomonkey 1 points 1y ago
Check with your local libraries. Many have digital audio books that you can check out through their site itself and/or through a desktop or mobile application.
Additionally, many libraries can get special audiobook players that use USB cartridges that are specifically made to be easier for people with VI or limited mobility to handle. The players could also be good if the aunt is not as comfortable with mobile or desktop device operation because they operate more like an old cassette player even though they use USB cartridges.
If she checks on her library's site and they don't currently have something, it can also be worth asking the library if they can obtain it through interlibrary loan. Many public libraries, even those on University campuses, will coordinate to loan library materials to other libraries for patrons to check out.
I learned about a bunch about audiobooks when I did internal tech support at the American Printing House for the Blind. I used to help maintain and troubleshoot the machines they use to write data to the cartridges and the computers they used to do some of the book narration recordings a few years back. It was really fun stuff to learn about and be a part of maintaining. I also learned about various public library services when I did IT work for the Western Kentucky University Libraries.
Additionally, many libraries can get special audiobook players that use USB cartridges that are specifically made to be easier for people with VI or limited mobility to handle. The players could also be good if the aunt is not as comfortable with mobile or desktop device operation because they operate more like an old cassette player even though they use USB cartridges.
If she checks on her library's site and they don't currently have something, it can also be worth asking the library if they can obtain it through interlibrary loan. Many public libraries, even those on University campuses, will coordinate to loan library materials to other libraries for patrons to check out.
I learned about a bunch about audiobooks when I did internal tech support at the American Printing House for the Blind. I used to help maintain and troubleshoot the machines they use to write data to the cartridges and the computers they used to do some of the book narration recordings a few years back. It was really fun stuff to learn about and be a part of maintaining. I also learned about various public library services when I did IT work for the Western Kentucky University Libraries.
IcewolfTheBookish 2 points 1y ago
I agree with the whole amazon echo thing. One alternative too, is to receive books on disc through her local library. My grandmother used to deliver books to the elderly and books on disc are always an option too.
bradley22 1 points 1y ago
Yeah but you’d need a player for that, right?
CD players aren’t common these days in computers.
CD players aren’t common these days in computers.
IcewolfTheBookish 1 points 1y ago
they can sometimes assist with that too.
bradley22 1 points 1y ago
Great!
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