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Home  >  Everyday Life

News and Information Access

Audio and Braille Books
  • Perkins Library
  • Worcester Talking Book Library
  • Choice Magazine Listening  
Choice Magazine offers a free audio anthology for an audience of blind, visually impaired or physically handicapped subscribers.
  • Learning Ally                                                
Formerly Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic, membership is required. Fees may apply. 

Large Print 
  • Large Print Books are available through your local library or through the inter-library loan program.​
  • Best Practices and Guidelines for Large Print Documents by American Council of the Blind

Braille
  • About Braille by National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)
  • Braille Bug from American Printing House
  • Braille Courses from Hadley
Audible News & Information
  • Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Information Network
Call toll free: 800-392-6450
Once connected, state "tape" or "information tape". Updated every Friday.
  • National Federation for the Blind's NFB-Newsline
NFB-Newsline is free for individuals who cannot read regular print. Every day, a subscriber can choose that day's, the previous day's, or the previous Sunday's issue of any newspaper in the service--national and local papers are offered. Over 40 magazines are also available. 
  • Talking Information Center
Talking Information Center (TIC) is a radio reading service that provides the reading of daily newspapers, periodicals, shopping guides, best selling books, community events and more. Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to listeners who are visually and/or print impaired.
  • Audible Local Ledger
The Audible Local Ledger is a free radio broadcast serving Cape Cod, the islands and South Coast. Listeners can also tune in on an Echo Dot or Google Home, or through an app to hear  the reading of daily newspapers, current periodicals, shopping guides, best selling books, and calendars of community events.
  • Audio Journal
Audio Journal is Central Massachusetts' free radio reading service for individuals who are print disabled.The service broadcasts twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Local and national newspapers and magazines are read, plus special and general interest programs are produced.
  • Berkshire Talking Chronicle
The Berkshire Talking Chronicle provides free-of-charge radio reading services to visually-impaired and print-handicapped listeners in the Berkshires Programming is offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year includes local news and information from the Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield Gazette, North Adams Transcript, Singer Shout Out!, shopping circular, community events and articles from national periodicals.
  • Valley Eye Radio 
Valley Eye Radio reads daily papers and the local weekly and monthly newspapers from every community in the Pioneer Valley. Recordings from important local events; interviews with local politicians, advocacy groups, and authors; entertaining and interesting articles from a variety of local, regional, and national publications; and books chosen by volunteers are also available.
  •  Lowell Association for the Blind Radio Reading Service
Local volunteers at the station read daily newspapers, including the Lowell Sun, Lawrence Eagle Tribune, Nashua Telegraph, Dracut Dispatch, Chelmsford Independent, Westford Eagle, Tewksbury Advocate, and the Northwest Weekly section of the Boston Globe.

See Also:

Picture: woman using a mixer with adapted switch
Strategies for Everyday Situations
Picture: wheelchair symbol
Products for Accessibility
Picture: cane tip
Orientation & Mobility Techniques
Picture: magnifying glass
Local & National Organizations: Vision Loss
Picture: park benches
Recreation​
Picture: man and woman using human guide technique
MCB/DDS Services & Resources
Picture of computer keyboard
Technology for Low Vision & Blindness
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Vision Loss Support Groups
For more information please contact: 
Lisa DiBonaventura,  M.A.,  COMS
Statewide Director Vision & Vision Loss Services
Department of Developmental Services  (DDS)
Email: Lisa.DiBonaventura@mass.gov
About                   Contact                  FAQ
Site Accessibility & Download Policy
Please note: By posting these Web links, it is not our intention to endorse or recommend the sites. These sites are being offered only as informational resources.  
"Focus" on Vision and Vision Loss: Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability
  • MCB/DDS
    • About >
      • Site Accessibility & Download Policy
      • Vision Loss Terminology
    • APH Federal Quota Account >
      • APH Activity Ideas
    • DDS Collaborative Eye Care Clinics
    • Orientation & Mobility/Low Vision Services >
      • Areas Served
      • COMS Log In
    • Let's Walk Together
    • Vision Loss Support Groups
    • EOHHS Resources
  • Eye Care
    • Find an Eye Care Provider >
      • By Town >
        • Athol
        • Ayer
        • Beverly
        • Boston
        • Burlington
        • Cambridge
        • Chelmsford
        • Chelsea
        • East Bridgewater
        • East Harwich
        • Fairhaven
        • Fall River
        • Falmouth
        • Fitchburg
        • Framingham
        • Franklin
        • Gardner
        • Greenfield
        • Groveland
        • Holyoke
        • Lexington
        • Lowell
        • Marlborough
        • Melrose
        • New Bedford
        • Newton
        • North Dartmouth
        • North Reading
        • Plymouth
        • Quincy
        • Revere
        • Sagamore
        • Salem
        • Sandwich
        • Shelburne Falls
        • South Dennis
        • Spencer
        • Springfield
        • Sturbridge
        • Sudbury
        • Taunton
        • Tewksbury
        • Waltham
        • Wareham
        • Watertown
        • Wellesley
        • West Springfield
        • Winthrop
        • Worcester
    • NECO SEMA >
      • NECO Student Access
    • MCPHS Eye and Vision Center
    • DDS Vision Care Guidelines
    • Eye Health & Safety
    • Eye Conditions & Simulations >
      • A
      • B
      • C
      • D
      • E
      • F
      • G
      • H
      • I
      • K
      • L
      • M
      • N
      • O
      • P
      • R
      • S
      • T
      • U
      • V
    • In the News
  • Everyday Life
    • Strategies
    • COVID Resources
    • Deafblind Resources
    • Orientation & Mobility >
      • Movement, Safety and Fun
    • Recreation >
      • Leisure and Learning at Home
    • Local & National Organizations
  • Tech and Access
    • Apps for Vision Loss
    • Technology Equipment
    • Technology Resources
    • Products for Accessibility
    • News and Information Access
  • Students
    • Birth - 22 >
      • Team and IEP
    • Transition
  • Connect
    • Inspiring Lives >
      • Dejan
    • Focus Blog
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Training
    • "Focus Talks"
    • Conferences & Workshops
    • Online Courses & Webinars
    • Downloadable Resources & Videos
    • Train the Trainer: Human Guide >
      • Trainer Log In (password needed)
    • Train the Leader: Support Groups >
      • Support Group Leader Log in (password required)