Collections and Services Available
Outside the Talking Books and Braille Center
- Large print newspapers at the Magazines and Newspapers Center; large print books are available on the 1st Floor, Children’s Center, the Mix Teen center, and branch libraries.
- NFB-NEWSLINE is a toll-free telephone service that uses synthesized speech to deliver an audio version of more than 400 print publications, including four Spanish-language newspapers to those who are blind or visually impaired.
- The San Francisco Public Library offers audio books to all people who need or prefer to have books read aloud. Anyone can borrow abridged and unabridged books on CD from collections in the Main Library at the Audiovisual Center on the first floor and at all branches or download them from our website.
NLS Useful Links
- BARD Mobile 'How-To Series'
- National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress
- Guides NLS Reference Materials
- NLS Music Blog
Helpful Resources
Assistive and Adaptive Technology
- The Audio Description Project is an Initiative of the American Council of the Blind
- Audio-described DVD’s through San Francisco Public Library (sfpl.org) - Video recordings for people with visual disabilities (Subject in the library catalog)
- You Describe is YouTube with audio description
- Computers for the Blind, CFTB Consumers on SSI can receive a discounted computer
- NVDA Screen Reader
- JAWS Screen Reader
- Paths to Literacy Navigating the Web with Windows JAWS and NVDA: tips and video
- AppleVis A community-powered website for blind and low-vision users of Apple's range of Mac computers, the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and the Apple TV
- LookTel VoiceOver Tutorial By IPPLEX
- 4 Finger triple tap - what does that do? VO practice with Siri to turn on Voice Over in iOS
- California Assistive Technology Reuse Coalition connects people with refurbished assistive technology
- Ability Tools buy, sell, borrow, free assistive technology marketplace
- Eyes On Success radio program and podcast discusses products, services and daily living tips for people with vision loss
- The Carroll Center for the Blind has made a series of FREE Video Tutorials that can help you get started using the latest Assistive Technology
Braille Education
- Hadley School for the Blind Unified English Braille Transition Courses
- National Federation of the Blind Free Braille Transcribing Course
- Braillebug introductory braille
- UEB Online Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children’s Renwick Centre (a training program for sighted people to learn Unified English Braille)
- The ABCs of UEB authored by Constance Risjord (a program for those who already know EBAE to quickly build on their knowledge of braille to understand Unified English Braille)
- CNIB Transcriber's UEB Course “Update to UEB” file types: Word, print .pdf, .brf, and.dxb.
- Divina teaches braille at the LightHouse
Other Audiobook sources
- Bookshare books are read in a computer generated voice
- Learning Ally books are read by people
- Jewish Braille Institute for Russian Language books
Education
- California School for the Blind
- National Braille Press
- Blind New World Is it possible we fear blindness so much that we exclude those without sight? Stigmas, misperceptions and deep feelings about blindness lead us to marginalize and exclude this highly capable population. It’s time to create a BlindNewWorld.
- Free Braille Books Program from American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Employment
- Department of Rehabilitation employment and independent living resource
- disABLEDperson job postings from companies seeking disabled employees
Organizations
- LightHouse for the Blind San Francisco offers training, education, advocacy, resources
- Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco offers advocacy, support through assistive technology and counseling, information
- Department of Aging & Adult Services, Department of Human Services, San Francisco
- Disability Rights California is an advocacy group
- Institute on Aging coordinates services for seniors. Also has Friendship Line, a toll-free 24/7 crisis hotline for seniors and adults with disabilities
- California Office of Services to the Blind administers Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program paying for costs related to guide dogs
- SF Connected offers free classes and computer labs for seniors and people with disabilities. Computers have ZoomText
- Free and Discounted Phones for qualifying individuals
- National Federation of the Blind California
- NFB Free White Cane Program
- American Foundation for the Blind
- American Council of the Blind
- Amputee Coalition resources, support and advocacy
- Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) a 27-bed facility serving veterans in Menlo Park
- New York Public Library's Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library
Health/Research
General
- Goodreads social network for book lovers
- Reading Rants! Teen book reviews and links
- American Library Association's Notable Children's Digital Media
- Free Muni for People with Disabilities
- SF Civic Center events happening in Civic Center Plaza
- SFPUC free calendar
- Kindergarten to College a college savings initiative by the City and County of San Francisco, containing an initial deposit of $50 from the City and County of San Francisco