Books Aloud

We Believe that Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a good book.

Unfortunately, due to blindness, and other reasons,

Some Don’t.

Our Goal is To improve the quality of life for these people through audio books.

Located in the Dr. Martin Luther King Library in downtown San Jose, Books Aloud is a wonderful non-profit organization that provides audio books for people with disabilities that hinder their ability to read the conventional way. Â The mission of Books Aloud is to improve the quality of life for these people through audio books.

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counsellors, and the most patient of teachers. ” — Charles W. Eliot

Approximately 109,000 visually impaired people in the United States use long canes to get around. Just over 7,000 Americans use dog guides. Annually, 1,500 individuals graduate from a dogguide user program. (American Foundation for the Blind. Quick Facts and Figures on Blindness and Low Vision. 2003)

How could being blind affect a persons life?

Blindness is the condition of lacking visual due to physiological or neurological factors.

Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness.

[1] Total blindness is the complete lack of form and visual light perception and is clinically recorded as NLP, an abbreviation for “no light perception.”[1] Blindness is frequently used to describe severe visual impairment with residual vision. Those described as having only light perception have no more sight than the ability to tell light from dark and the general direction of a light source.

not rely on other people, they will most likely at least rely on a seeing eye dog. Blind people are limited to a different arena of entertainment than those who can see. They cannot watch movies or ballets, but they can enjoy a symphony. Their selection of literature is limited to what can be found in Braille. Blind people are also said to have a much keener sense of hearing and smell, due to their lack of sight. They hear and smell and feel their surroundings rather than see them. Being blind also affects how someone will interact with others since they cannot create first impressions based on a person’s appearance.

Being blind affects many aspects of a person’s life. It may affect where they live. Since they cannot drive, it would probably be more convenient to live where everything is within walking distance, so they do not have to depend on someone else to get them where they need to go. Regardless, it is more difficult for blind people to be entirely independent. If they do Blindness

5

The Most Common Causes of Blindness:

Every year 50,000 Americans become blind. Blindness occurs most often with advancing age, with half of all blind people generally considered to be over sixty-five. A significant number of blind people, however, are children or young adults.

There are many causes of blindness.

You can read this page for some of the major causes of blindness.

47.9%

Cataracts

12.3%

Glaucoma

8.7%

Age-related Macular Degeneration

5.1%

Corneal Opacity

4.8%

Diabetic Retinopathy

3.9%

Childhood blindness

3.6%

Trachoma

0.8%

Onchocerciasis Blindness

7

“A good book should leave you...slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it.� —William Styron

An estimated 19 million children are visually impaired. Of these, 12 million children are visually impaired due to refractive errors, a condition that could be easily diagnosed and corrected. 1.4 million are irreversibly blind for the rest of their lives.

Why Reading is Important for Children?

Children might frequently ask why reading is important and it is imperative that their questions are answered. Children should be exposed to reading from the womb; however reading must be more to children than a time of fun and enjoyment. They must have an appreciation for the fact that reading is a skill that they should endeavor to master for the rest of their lives. Thought they should never think that reading is boring, they should understand and accept the fact that reading is a skill that will require practice and diligence. When asked why reading is important they should have the understanding that reading is the key to unlocking their future success.

One of the best ways for children to understand why reading is important, is for them to see those around them reading. Many adults have plenty of opportunities to ensure that children have a respect for the written word. Every time an adult picks up a newspaper, magazine, or reads a book in front of a child they are showing

children that reading is important. In addition, it is also important that children understand that reading comprehension, vocabulary and spelling skills, and the ability to discern critically the information being read are important elements for successful reading. Adults should never hesitate to explain to children the importance of reading, building vocabulary skills, and increasing reading comprehension. When children see first hand that adults are still learning it opens the door for them to accept learning as well. To help your child learn to read find a great reading program or reading tutor.

Understanding why reading is important is paramount for building successful readers who don’t just have skills but also have a serious lifelong hunger for reading. To ensure that children grow up with a passion for reading it is important to take the time and answer the question why reading is important.

Blindness

9

THE STORY OF OUR AUDIENCES

Kylar and Nolan

Although Kylar is unable to turn the pages of the books due to his cerebral palsy, his five year old brother, Nolan, listens with him and turns the pages. Together they enjoy the audio books and picture books from our Sight and Sound collection. They especially like books about doctors, dentists, police, and construction. His mother, Annemarie, tells us that they listen to audio books for hours each day.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement. Cerebral refers to the cerebrum, which is the affected area of the brain (although the disorder most likely involves connections between the cortex and other parts of the brain such as the cerebellum), and palsy refers to disorder of movement.

However, “paralytic disorders� are not cerebral palsy — the condition of quadriplegia, therefore, should not be confused with spastic quadriplegia, nor Tardive dyskinesia with dyskinetic cerebral palsy, nor diplegia with spastic diplegia, and so on.

Blindness

11

“Reading by Listening” in braille alphabet.

How blind people read books in regular way?

Many blind people read specially printed books using the Braille system, developed by a French boy named Louis Braille in 1824. Braille, who became blind when he was three years old, was only 15 when he modified a code used by the military for reading in the dark. Braille’s new system involved raised dots that stood for letters, numbers, punctuation symbols, and words. There are 63 characters in the Braille code, each one a unique combination of one to six raised dots.

Once blind people have learned the Braille “alphabet,” they can read Braille books by lightly touching the book’s pages with their fingers.

which are recordings of entire books-novels, schoolbooks, and so on-that can be played back on cassette or compact disc players.

Optical scanners are another way to translate printed materials into sounds-these computers scan a page from a book or magazine, and a computer-generated voice reads the material aloud.

Some people who become blind later in life (after having learned to read) prefer to use a system that incorporates the alphabet they are familiar with rather than learning Braille. A device called the Optacon can be used with regular books; it enlarges and raises each letter, which the blind person can then feel with her fingers and “read.”

Another way for blind people to discover the content of a book is through “talking books,” Blindness

13

THE STORY OF OUR VOLUNTEER

Angeline Kane

The first time I volunteered they gave me a tour of the place and talked about the volunteers who dedicate their time to recording their voices for the books on tape. I was told that after some time, “readers” even start to favor one voice over another and will request more books read by that person. After the tour, it became evident to me that Books Aloud has far exceeded its mission. You can tell that the people involved with this organization on a day-to-day basis genuinely care about their clients.

There are several tasks volunteers can participate in, from picking out books for each individual and rewinding tapes, to checking out books in the computer system and preparing packages for shipment. Although the system they have in place takes awhile to get used to and learn, I especially love picking out the books for clients because you know you have a direct hand in providing them books for their entertainment and stimulation.

Blindness

15

We are books aloud,

WE READ BOOKS FOR THEM We record books onto audio format for those unable to read by conventional means. Books Aloud moved to a brand new library in downtown San Jose, California. in August 2003. Our “Reading

by Listening� program consists of some 5,000+ unabridged titles with numerous selections suitable to patrons of all ages.

Audio selections are ideally suitable for recreational, educational, inspirational and rehabilitative purposes.

Books Aloud is dedicated to making a meaningful difference to the lives of those unable to enjoy the magic of reading the written word.

Our programs

Books Aloud is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people unable to benefit directly from the printed page, by providing the service to stimulate minds, stir emotions and foster independence through their “Reading by Listening” program.

Over 7,000 adult, junior and children’s titles are available. Some are commercially recorded, and most are recorded in their on-site recording studios. Printed and audio books are lent together as a kit allowing a sighted reader with a learning disability to follow along while listening.

A wide variety of FREE recorded books in many genres is available. Most titles are recorded by auditioned volunteer voices in our on-site recording studios. We offer: 7,000+ adult, junior & children’s titles; Some commercially recorded titles; Mostly cassettes, and some CD’s; Over 300 new titles are added each year! Items are mailed Free Matter For the Blind.

Eligibility: Blind, visually impaired, learning disabled individuals who are unable to read conventional print, hold a book, or turn the pages are eligible. They serve clients of all ages and reading levels within the United States.

About Books Aloud

19

We have already recorded

18062 books!

“Books Aloud is a really great program. It empowers and gives the clients independence and improves the quality of their lives.”

—Celeste , Mother of our client

Our mission

Books Aloud, Inc. is a non-profit organization supported by donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, businesses and service clubs.

Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people unable to benefit directly from the printed page by providing a service to stimulate minds, stir emotions and foster independence through our “Reading by Listening” program.

ages. We keep the “Magic of Reading” alive for all of our clients because we believe reading is so important.

A wide variety of FREE recorded books in many genres is available. Most titles are recorded by auditioned volunteer voices in their on site recording studio. Items are mailed Free Matter For the Blind (home delivery is available in Santa Clara County clients.)

The Books Aloud “Reading by Listening” Program provides a wide variety of recorded reading literature to eligible individuals of all ages. We keep the “Magic of Reading” alive for our clients. This is a FREE service.

Incorporated in 1973, it has served thousands of permanently and temporarily disabled listeners across the U.S. The Books Aloud “Reading by Listening” Program provides a wide variety of recorded reading literature to eligible individuals of all About Books Aloud

23

Students record books for the blind In a colorful jumble of stripes, camouflage, flowered print and denim, third-graders crowded before a microphone Friday to record children’s books for blind and visually impaired kids.

In raising their varied voices at Books Aloud Inc. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library in San Jose, Helen Carnes’ class from Walter Hays Elementary School in Palo Alto learned a mighty lesson in empathy and generosity, beyond sharing the gift of reading.

“If you have a good life and you don’t help people, then I want to say . . .,’’ began Kristen De Stefano, 9, pausing to consider what advice to impart.

“Come on, help others!’’ jumped in Jasmine Inostrosa, 9. Carnes -- who taught her class about Louis Braille, inventor of the raised dot alphabet — called the outing “a great adventure and the best of everything. We get to help people and have fun. I see big smiles on their

faces that a blind child might hear their stories.’’

For those kids, “it will be like listening to a brother or sister read these darling books to them,’’ said Joyce Meurer, executive director of the non-profit organization.

Inside the foam-padded recording studio, guided by production manager John Leventon, students read “Chicken Little’’ by Steven Kellog; “Three Questions’’ by Leo Tolstoy; “The Gingerbread Boy’’ book of folk tales; “When I was Young in the Mountains’’ by Cynthia Rylant; and “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse’’ by Kevin Henkes.

Hearing their recorded voices played back was a surprise. “I sounded so different,’’ said Hayden Maliska. “I sounded weird,’’ said Margot Richard, “I sounded like the devil,’’ said Koloti Mataele.

Afterward, students typed their names into a Braille label machine. “It’s hard to believe this spells out my name,’’ said Anita Sharma, running her fingers over the raised dots.

How do I get to be a Books Aloud volunteer reader?

First, you schedule an audition. Our auditions are 20 minute readings of a children’s book and an adult book (10 minutes each) of your choice. We suggest that you select your books in advance and become familiar with them. We are looking for versatility, voice quality and accuracy, as well as dependability should the reader pass the audition.

How will I know if I passed?

After the completion of the audition, the audition tape is reviewed by a committee made up of the studio technicians and the Studio Manager. Whether or not you pass the audition, you will receive a telephone call with the results.

What happens after I pass my audition?

Once the audition is passed, the first book is selected for the reader and recorded in one of our two digital studios. The first book is considered probationary.

The recording will be reviewed and must be approved before a second book is selected.

Hearing this, Meurer said, “And yet a blind person can feel these dots and read a sentence as fast as you can, when you’re reading a book.’’

Charlotte Alipate, 10, found out through an earlier homework assignment about the daily challenges that blind people face.

“Charlotte put a blindfold on at home and tried to eat dinner and clean her dishes,’’ said her sister, Elizabeth Alipate, 19, at Friday’s event. “She couldn’t believe how hard it was to do what blind people do every day. She’s learning to give to the community.’’

Combining community service with school curriculum is important, said Carnes, 44, who brought in a guide dog to her class and showed a Helen Keller biopic. “This is an opportunity for children to be part of the larger community.’’

It’s also a lesson in appreciating diversity.

“Kids are still open to being inclusive, to being empathetic, to meeting people with disabilities

and relating to them,’’ Carnes said.

The students didn’t seem to notice that media duplication specialist Derrick Williamson gets around in a wheelchair.

“Growing up, I benefited from people’s kindness,’’ said Williamson, 22, who was in a car accident in his infancy. “I started out as a volunteer here, as my way of paying it forward.’’

Books Aloud, said Meurer, “is not only a program for serving the blind or visually impaired’’ and disabled. “It’s a program for volunteering. Our volunteers are children, business people, the disabled, retired people and youth who’ve been expelled from school.

One of our young men said, “I used to pick on anyone who was disabled. I am now their champion. I am now their advocate. Nobody picks on the disabled when I’m around.”

About Books Aloud

25

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library 150 E. San Fernado Street San Jose, California 95112 T 408.808.2613 F 408.808.2625 www.booksaloud.org