Inside OPB
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 Becky Chinn, Senior Director of Membership & Marketing.
Organizations Serving the Visually Impaired & Print-Disabled Community
- American Council of the Blind of Oregon
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- Consumer membership organization.
- American Foundation for the Blind
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- 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
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- Provider of accessible educational and daily living products since 1858.
- Blindskills, Publishers of Dialogue
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- 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
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- Radio reading service streams live online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- IAAIS (International Association of Audio Information Services)
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- Worldwide reading services on radio, telephone and Internet.
- National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Oregon
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- Consumer membership organization.
- NFB-NEWSLINE
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- 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
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- Resource for audio, braille and print/braille books for preschool through grade 8.
- Omni Media Networks
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- Based in Portland, OR. Programs are available via webcasting.
- Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind
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- 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
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- Provides vocational rehabilitation resources and independent living services for visually impaired Oregonians, their families and employers.
- Oregon School for the Blind
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- Provides specialized educational services to blind and visually impaired youth ages birth-21 in the state of Oregon including on-campus and community-based programs.
- Oregon State Library, Talking Book & Braille Services
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- 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
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- Provides technical training, information, assistance and resources for children with disabilities. Sponsored by the Oregon Department of Education.
- Vision Northwest
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- Provides support services and coordinates support groups in Oregon and Washington for recently disabled.
- Washington State School for the Blind
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- 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
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- 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)
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- Works with organizations around the world to develop strategies, guidelines and resources to help make the Web accessible to people with disabilities.
- Web Accessibility Toolbar
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- Incorporates accessible design into Web-based communications, Web applications and client software.
Audio Books
- Library2Go: Oregon Digital Library Consortium
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- Download best-selling digital audio titles. Service is free of charge, but library card number is required from local library.
- LibriVox
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- Free audio books for all books in the public domain (i.e., books published before 1923).
- School Download Library (TBABS)
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- Offers audio books for grades K-12. Service is free of charge, but library card number is required from Oregon Talking Book & Braille Services.
- Unabridged (TBABS)
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- Offers digital audio books including children's books. Service is free of charge, but library card number is required from Oregon Talking Book & Braille Services.
- Audible.com
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- Offers best-selling audiobooks, audio magazines and newspapers and podcasts for a small charge.
- Fictionwise (audio and eBooks)
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- Sells eBooks.
Free with Registration
Fee Based
eBooks
- Adobe eBook reader
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- Download Adobe® Digital Editions at no cost.
- The Franklin Free Library
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- Online library offers thousands of free titles. Select titles also available for purchase.
- Knowledge Rush
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- Free online book service. Members can also post comments and publish original works.
- Microsoft Reader
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- Download Microsoft Reader for Windows-based PCs at no charge. Also offers books online for purchase and at no cost.
- The Online Books Page
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- Over 30,000 books available online at no charge.
- Page by Page Books
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- Hundreds of classic books available online at no charge.
- School Download Library (TBABS)
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- Offers audio books for grades K-12. Service is free of charge, but library card number is required from Oregon Talking Book & Braille Services.
- Huge Print Press
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- Custom enlarges all kinds of books.
- Mobipocket eBooks
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- Offers free download of the Mobipocket eBook Reader for Blackberry devices and online eBookstore.
- ReadPlease (text to speech software)
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- Offers text-to-speech software for Windows-based operating systems for sale online.

