This information has been sourced from Reading Sight website.
People with a visual and/or print impairment can access alternative formats for free from the following virtual online libraries in the UK:
Articles for the Blind Scheme
Alternative format material (including large print and audio) may be sent via the Royal Mail free of charge, using the Articles for the Blind (AFB) service. To comply with Royal Mail regulations the customer’s name and ‘Articles for the Blind’ must be on the parcel.
Calibre (www.calibreaudio.org.uk)
Calibre Audio is a national charity that has been opening up the world of reading since 1974. They support people with print disabilities by providing access to thousands of audiobooks - keeping the joy, comfort and possibilities of reading within everyone’s reach. Conditions we support include:
- Neurodivergent conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD or autism
- A visual impairment or blindness
- Physical dexterity problems such as Parkinson’s, arthritis or MND
- A brain injury or cognitive impairment, including head trauma or stroke.
Calibre Audio has a growing collection of over 23,000 audiobooks for all ages and interests - from children’s favourites and YA fiction, to bestsellers, non-fiction and classics.
You can borrow as many audiobooks as you like and listen in the way that suits you best.
Our service is:
- Free for under 25's, UK veterans and USB members
- £3 a month or £30 a year for everyone else, including people living overseas.
- Members can borrow as often as they like, subject to licensed copies per audiobook.
Clearvision (www.clearvisionproject.org)
ClearVision is a postal lending library of children’s books designed to be shared by visually impaired and sighted children and adults. All their books have braille, print and pictures, and there are over 14,000 books in the collection, catering for children from birth until they’re independent readers. You can find out more via info@clearvisionproject.org or you can call on 020 8789 9575.
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) (www.rniblibrary.com)
RNIB Library has over 60,000 items for people to borrow, including audiobooks, braille and giant print (24pt) and accessible music. It is the largest library of its kind in the UK and the full catalogue of titles can be searched online. Further information is available via the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
RNIB Telephone Book Clubs
RNIB also provide Telephone Book Clubs for people with sight loss. These are especially good for customers with limited mobility.
RNIB Library Team: Email: libraryinfo@rnib.org.uk, Phone: 0303 123 9999
RNIB Helpline: Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk, Phone: 0303 123 9999
Listening Books (www.listening-books.org.uk)
Listening Books is a UK charitable audiobook lending service for people of all ages whose illness, mental health condition, disability or learning difficulty affects being able to read print or hold a book. They have over 10,000 professionally-recorded audiobooks available to stream and download online or through a free app, and borrow through a postal MP3 CD service. Membership costs just £20-45 a year, and is completely free to those eligible for the service who would find this fee a barrier to joining. To learn more, please visit www.listening-books.org.uk, email info@listening-books.org.uk, or call 0207 407 9417.
Living Paintings (www.livingpaintings.org)
Living Paintings is a charity who design, create and publish tactile books, with audio for blind and partially sighted people, i.e. ‘Touch to See’ books. They have titles suitable for anyone from pre-school to adults, and distribute these through their FREE postal library. To register as a library member, please visit www.livingpaintings.org or speak to the Library team on 01635 299771. You can contact them via email library@livingpaintings.org
Useful Information for people with a sight and/or hearing loss in Barking and Dagenham
Referral to Social Services for a Sensory Assessment: Adult Triage 020 8227 2915 or email Intaketeam@lbbd.gov.uk
If you or someone you know needs help picking up medicine, shopping, you need a friendly call or something else, please phone 020 8215 3000 option 1 for BDCAN service Email: bdcan@lbbd.gov.uk Website: https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/let-us-knowif-you-need-help-or-support
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Drop-in: Online Advisory service only by text, video call (DUO) using BSL, voice or email. Please contact
bernadette.wakeling@lbbd.gov.uk
07772 229 294
0208 227 3780