For further information about any of these assistive technology
devices or special services, please call Bob Blanchard at 847-376-2793.
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Six desktop magnifiers, one with a color monitor and five with black-and-white monitors, are available for home use by visually impaired individuals. Each magnifier enlarges print
material by several times and displays the images on a screen. The machines can be checked out for up
to eight weeks. A larger desktop magnifier stays in the library on the fourth floor. |
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| The SARA machine easily transforms text from books, magazines and other printed material into spoken words. As the words are "read," they also appear in large type on the attached monitor. The SARA, or, Scanning and Reading Appliance, was purchased by the Friends of the Des Plaines Public Library and is located in a study room on the third floor. |
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Like the SARA machine, the Reading Edge machine scans and reads printed material in one of several distinct voices. The machine, a gift from the Des Plaines Lions Club, is available for eight-week checkout. |
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The Traveller, pictured at right, is one of two portable magnifying machines available for eight-week checkout from the library.
It's battery-powered and can be taken anywhere a person needs to read smaller print.
The smaller QuickLook portable magnifying machine also can be checked out for eight weeks. |
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With the Perkins Brailler typewriter, a person
can type Braille characters onto special heavyweight paper. The
styluses and slates can be used to create Braille letters
and numbers. These items can be used in the library and are
available at the Readers’ Services desk on the third
floor. Patrons must supply their own heavy paper. The
equipment was a gift to the library in 2000. |
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Special magnifying glasses are available for
use in the library. They are at the service desks on all four floors.
JAWS and MAGic with Speech are special software programs that help visually impaired patrons read or listen to what's on their computer screen. The software is installed on various computers on the second and fourth floors.
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Chicagoland Radio Information Service
(CRIS) is a not-for-profit organization that provides free, current
information and in-depth news to people who cannot read
printed material due to visual or physical disability. With
this special CRIS radio receiver, a person can listen to
verbatim readings of local and national newspapers and a
variety of magazines, as well as special programming. The
receiver can be checked out for up to eight weeks.
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| Talking Book cassette players are available for a trial basis. The free program is run locally by the Voices of Vision Talking Book Center and is part of the federal Blind and Physically Handicapped Program.
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The Adapt-a-Lap is a device that holds printed
material for persons who want or need to have their hands
free while reading. It is useful for persons who cannot hold a heavy book
or awkward magazine. This device can be checked out for
eight weeks.
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This wheelchair is available at the Registration Desk for persons
who would have difficulty walking in the library. It was donated by
Oakton Place. |
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