Resources for the Visually Impaired and Print Disabled in Oregon & SW Washington

As part of its mission to illuminate a wider world, OPB is committed to helping promote the services of organizations that support the visually impaired and print-disabled community. If you would like to add your services to the list below, please e-mail Paul Loofburrow, Director of Marketing.

Organizations Serving the Visually Impaired & Print-Disabled Community

• American Council of the Blind of Oregon
  Consumer membership organization.
• American Foundation for the Blind
  National nonprofit whose mission is to ensure that those with vision loss enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other citizens.
• American Printing House for the Blind
  Provider of accessible educational and daily living products since 1858.
• Blindskills, Publishers of Dialogue
  Distributes resources and information to the blind and visually impaired and their families via toll-free help line, Web site and the bimonthly publication, DIALOGUE.
• Evergreen Radio Reading Service
  Radio reading service streams live online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• IAAIS (International Association of Audio Information Services)
  Worldwide reading services on radio, telephone and Internet.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Oregon
  Consumer membership organization.
• NFB-NEWSLINE
  Telephone service providing audio of several Oregon-based newspapers such as The Oregonian, Eugene Register-Guard and The Statesman-Journal. Registration required through Oregon Talking Book and Braille Services.
• NLS Kids Zone
  Resource for audio, braille and print/braille books for preschool through grade 8.
• Omni Media Networks
  Based in Portland, OR. Programs are available via webcasting.
• Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind
  Offers blind/low vision individuals social, recreational and informal educational activities at their 22-acre site in Sandy, Oregon. Programs include monthly retreats, special events and summer camps. Transportation is provided from the Portland area.
• Oregon Commission for the Blind
  Provides vocational rehabilitation resources and independent living services for visually impaired Oregonians, their families and employers.
• Oregon State Library, Talking Book & Braille Services
  Over 60,000 available audio book titles, thousands of Braille materials and personalized service from trained Reader\'s Advisors. Offers unabridged downloadable audio books, Web-Braille, descriptive video of more than 400 movies and access to NFB NEWSLINE.
• Oregon Technology Access Program
  Provides technical training, information, assistance and resources for children with disabilities. Sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education.
• Vision Northwest
  Provides support services and coordinates support groups in Oregon and Washington for recently disabled.
• Washington State School for the Blind
  Provides specialized educational services to blind and visually impaired youth ages birth-21 in the state of Washington including on-campus and community-based programs.
• Washington Talking Book & Braille Library
  Offers books and magazines on cassette, Braille and large-print books and equipment at no charge to children and adults who are residents of Washington state and who are blind or visually, physically or learning disabled.
• Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)
  Works with organizations around the world to develop strategies, guidelines and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.

Audio Books

FREE WITH REGISTRATION

• Library2Go: Oregon Digital Library Consortium
  Download best-selling digital audio titles. Service is free of charge, but library card number is required from local library.
• LibriVox
  Free audio books for all books in the public domain (i.e., books published before 1923).

FEE BASED

• Audible.com
  Offers best-selling audiobooks, audio magazines and newspapers and podcasts for a small charge.
• Fictionwise (audio and eBooks)
  Sells eBooks.

eBooks

FREE WITH SUBSCRIPTION

• Adobe eBook reader
  Download Adobe® Digital Editions at no cost
• Knowledge Rush
  Free online book service. Members can also post comments and publish original works.
• The Online Books Page
  Over 30,000 books available online at no charge.
• Page by Page Books
  Hundreds of classic books available online at no charge.
• School Download Library (TBABS)
  Offers audio books for grades K-12. Service is free of charge, but library card number is required from Oregon Talking Book & Braille Services.

FEE BASED

• The Franklin Free Library
  Online library offers thousands of titles available for purchase.
• Mobipocket eBooks
  Offers free download of the Mobipocket eBook Reader for Blackberry devices and online eBookstore.