Confident living. Reading

Transcription

1 Confident living Reading 1

2 Reading Five top tips 1 Make things bigger, bolder and brighter. 2 Improve your lighting to make things easier to see. 3 Try out an RNIB talking book at rnib.org.uk/sampletalkingbooks 4 Order a free braille alphabet card from RNIB. Knowing just a few words in braille can help with reading labels and signs. 5 Don t be afraid to try out new technologies.

3 Contents Introduction 4 Making the most of your sight 6 Ways to read 10 What to read 18 Learning new skills 24 Further information 26 3

4 Introduction Reading is important to all of us, whether you are reading a novel or the latest magazine, reading for work or reading personal information. If you struggle to read because of your sight there are solutions available to help you. This booklet gives an overview of the different ways in which you can read and what is available. We will explain how technology is expanding your choices and how you can make the most of it. We have included examples of how some blind and partially sighted people read and hope these will inspire you to try something new and carry on reading. 4

5 Ian s story Ian, who is blind and aged 61, has become a big fan of ebooks. He says: I m an avid reader and have recently discovered the joys of ebooks. Books are as important to blind and partially sighted people as they are to anybody, but the digital revolution and the advent of ebooks means we now have almost total equality of access to buying and reading them. I was chatting to a colleague in my office about a book he was reading. Right there and Right there and then I went into my ebook store on my phone and looked up the author s name... then I went into my ebook store on my phone and looked up the author s name, bought the book and just five minutes later I was reading it myself. In addition to much more choice of what to read, ebooks also mean you can choose how to read them. As well as using synthetic speech, you can also make use of any residual sight you may have by increasing the size of the font to one which suits you. 5

6 Making the most of your sight In order to try and make the most of the sight you have, there are three simple things you could keep in mind: Make things bigger is there any way the size of the text could be increased? Make things bolder a darker text that has a stronger contrast with its background can be easier to read. Make things brighter are you making the most of sunlight and artificial light? Keeping these things in mind may help you to continue to enjoy reading. Low vision services In many areas, there may be a low vision service, which can assess your sight and establish what kind of equipment, such as magnifiers, as well as reading techniques or devices will be most useful for you. You will also receive training to make sure you can use and maintain any equipment correctly and effectively. 6

7 To find out more about low vision services in your area, contact the RNIB Helpline. Your local social services department or local society for people with sight problems may also have information, or even run low vision services you can contact our Helpline or use the Sightline directory to locate your local society. Magnifiers Using a magnifier can help you enlarge text to make it easier to read. Choosing the right magnifier is very important. Visit your low vision service where you will receive a full assessment so that you can get the best magnifier for you. 7

8 Our Magnifier Solutions guide can help you understand the terminology used at low vision services as well as identify the most appropriate level of magnification for your particular requirements. It explains the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of magnifier to be used for specific tasks and also the range available from RNIB. Visit rnib.org.uk/magnifiers or contact our Helpline for more information. 8

9 Lighting Using better lighting can help to make things easier to see. You should make sure that you have as much light as you feel comfortable with for reading. It is often easier to see things if you increase the light levels around you or on what you want to read. Use a task lamp that can be easily adjusted to where you need it most. RNIB s Everyday Solutions catalogue includes task lights and other lighting products to buy and our free Lighting Solutions guide gives lots of hints and tips. Visit rnib.org.uk/lighting or contact our Helpline to order. 9

10 Ways to read This section looks at the different reading formats available. Whether you are blind or partially sighted there are different ways of reading. The best way to find out what works for you is to try them out you may find you use more than one way to read depending on the material. Some people find they adjust relatively quickly and easily to reading in a new format such as audio, others find it more difficult. 10

11 Susan was distraught when she lost the ability to read following a diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration. Now she loves her talking books. She says: I just find books and reading so relaxing. They fire your imagination and enable you to experience different emotions, places and give you an insight into other people s lives. I like to be able to read what everyone else is reading. Sue found adjusting more difficult: I thought I would enjoy talking books a great deal but it took me a long time to get used to them. I found that I fell asleep a lot and found it difficult to concentrate. However, Sue has nothing but praise for giant print books: The joy of having a book in my hands again that I could read was wonderful... discovering giant print meant that I was on a level playing field. If you re unsure about the best way for you to read visit the Reading Sight website at readingsight.org.uk to receive a personalised recommendation based on a short questionnaire. 11

12 Audio There is a lot of information available in audio including many bestselling books, newspapers and magazines. Organisations will often provide audio versions of their information for you such as bills, statements or information leaflets. Audio material can be in a human voice or a synthetic electronic voice. If you are buying an audio book it is likely to be read by a professional reader or narrator, while a magazine or newspaper may be recorded using a synthetic voice. Some people prefer the performance that a professional reader can bring to an audio book, whilst other people prefer the synthetic voice so they can add their own interpretation. You can buy or borrow audio books on CD and play them on a CD player or download them from the internet and listen to them on your computer or other mobile device such as a phone or tablet. There are plenty of options 12

13 for you to try, our website rnib.org.uk/reading has information to help you. Larger print Large print is generally defined as anything from 16 point to 20 point text size (standard text is normally around 10 point to 12 point with newspaper print even smaller). Giant print is 24 point and above. 16 point text size example 20 point text size example 24 point text size example A good way to try out large print is to visit your local library. They will have a selection of large print books that you can borrow and see if it works for you. Although some organisations will use large print for corresponding with you, there is a limit to the amount of large print that is readily available. You can use technology to enlarge the text size of s or electronic files you receive to a size that suits you, either on a computer, phone or tablet device. Video magnifiers or CCTVs are also particularly useful for increasing the size of everyday information. 13

14 Using technology A lot of material can now be received and read using electronic devices, which offer features to enhance your ability to read. We can help you decide which device may be best for you but you can also ask high street shops for advice and try things out before you buy them to help you find the right solution for your personal needs. Computers If you have a computer, and what you are reading has been correctly set up, you will be able to change how it is displayed on your screen to best suit your needs. This can mean changing the size or colour of the text, or the background. 14

15 Screen readers can help if you are unable to see much of the screen. They will read the content to you, using a synthetic voice, or display it on a refreshable braille display. ebook readers An ebook is an electronic version of a book, newspaper or magazine. How you want to read will influence which ebook reading device you choose. Most ebook reading devices let you change how the text is displayed to best suit your needs. Some mobile phones and tablets have text-to-speech and magnification already built in. Some devices, including dedicated ebook readers, phone, tablets or computers will also convert the text to speech so you can listen to the content in a synthetic voice or you can use electronic braille if that is what you prefer. 15

16 Braille Braille is a system of raised dots which allows you to read and write using touch. It requires sensitive fingers but many people are pleasantly surprised at how quickly their sensitivity increases with practice. I get my braille books from RNIB s Library Service. I don t know where I would be without them because there is nothing nicer than coming home, settling down, reading a braille book and just relaxing, forgetting all about the worries of the day. Madeleine RNIB National Library Service has a large collection of braille books and sheet music. RNIB also sells braille books, magazines and tactile maps and supplies many products to help braille learners. Some people learn enough braille to be able to label items at home or work; others go on to read books. Many organisations also produce personal information for their customers in braille. 16

17 I use a combination of audio and braille on the computer when I m at work which really helps me to quickly scan through pages of information, particularly websites. Jim Braille can also be produced electronically from some computers, tablet devices or phones by adding a refreshable braille display. 17

18 What to read As well as reading in a different way, the way you access your reading material may also need to change. This section looks at what is available and where to find it. Library services Make the most of the local and specialist library services that are available to you. Local library services There s no need to stop using your local library just because your sight is failing. Most libraries stock large print, audio books and some now offer ebooks. Ask what they can offer you. They should be able to find out what is available to suit your requirements and order books from other libraries if required. RNIB National Library Service RNIB has the UK s largest library for readers with sight loss, offering a wide choice of books in audio, braille and giant print for adults and children. It is free to borrow braille and giant print books. There is an 18

19 annual subscription for RNIB s Talking Book Service, providing access to nearly 21,000 unabridged titles on CD. The books are recorded by professional actors and narrators. You can listen to sample talking book clips at rnib.org.uk/sampletalkingbooks or call our Helpline on to find out more. Calibre audio library Calibre is a free nationwide postal library of unabridged recorded books on MP3 CD, USB memory sticks or cassettes. Call or visit calibre.org.uk Listening Books Listening Books provides audio books to stream and download from their website. Members can also receive audio books through the post on MP3 CD. They stock over 5,000 audio books for both adults and children and support the National Curriculum from Key Stage 2 to A-Level. Call or visit listening-books.org.uk 19

20 For younger readers All the libraries listed provide a wealth of reading material for younger bookworms. There are also some that are specifically focused on children and learners: ClearVision ClearVision is a UK postal lending library of children s books with added braille. The books all have the text in both braille and print and include the pictures, making them suitable for sight impaired and sighted children and adults to share. Call or visit clearvisionproject.org Load2Learn Load2Learn is a free service providing accessible textbooks and images to support dyslexic, blind or partially sighted learners who have difficulty reading standard print. Membership is open to education professionals supporting print-impaired learners in the UK. Visit load2learn.org.uk 20

21 And much more... There are many other organisations offering services around the UK. To find out more contact our Helpline or visit the Sightline directory and search for reading services. Val switched to talking books when she discovered she was losing her sight. She says: It was fantastic. Within a couple of minutes it was like reading a book and I was totally immersed in the story. Even though my brain wants to retain the visual method of reading, talking books hit the spot for me. I am there, I like to live the story of the book and it is exactly the same with a talking book when I m reading it. 21

22 Magazines and newspapers National Talking Newspapers and Magazines offer over 200 titles including all the major daily and weekend papers in either audio or electronic format. For newspapers the full text is available electronically with selected highlights on either audio or DAISY CD. The best features and articles are selected from magazines including Reader s Digest, Hello, Garden Answers, Which?, Private Eye, Cosmopolitan and BBC Music Magazine as well as many specialist publications. Call or visit tnauk.org.uk Book clubs RNIB runs telephone book clubs for blind and partially sighted people. You can take part from the comfort of your own home and you don t even have to pay for the telephone call. All you need to do is share your passion for books with the other club members. Contact our Helpline to find out more. The telephone book clubs have woken up an interest in me that was dormant. I have become all fired up about books again. 22

23 Everyday reading Of course there is more to everyday reading than books, magazines and newspapers. What about bank statements, birthday cards, letters and signs? There are plenty of products and services that are available to help you with everyday reading. Contact our Helpline to find out more or visit rnib.org.uk/shop For information on how new technology such as phones, tablets or computers can also help with your everyday reading visit rnib.org.uk/reading Know your rights Service providers such as banks, utility companies, public authorities and private clubs have to make sure that their service is accessible to you without unreasonable difficulty. This may mean providing information in your preferred format of large print, audio or braille. You should always request the format that you need. 23

24 Learning new skills Computer skills and access to the internet can open up a whole new world of books and information, whether on a standard computer, phone or tablet device. Learning a small amount of braille can be useful for labelling items around the home. Computer skills It can be a challenge knowing where to start once you get your new computer or ebook reader home. We have a range of beginner s guides, which will give you all the basics you need to know about computers, ebooks and downloadable audio books or getting online. You can also listen to our dedicated podcasts about using technology. You can order our beginner s guides or our Getting started with technology CD by contacting our Helpline or you can read or listen online at rnib.org.uk/technology 24

25 Technology Support Squad RNIB s Technology Support Squad is a team of volunteers throughout the UK ready to help by phone or with a home visit. We can help with setting up computers and installing new software, learning about your ebook player or smartphone and much more besides. To find out more contact our Helpline. Braille It s best to learn braille through several short sessions each week. It is worth contacting your local Social Services Sensory Impairment team, local society for people with sight problems and local further education colleges to see if they provide braille classes, or can offer you any support while you follow a self-study course. We also organise a range of courses and training sessions. To find out more about learning braille visit rnib.org.uk/braille or contact our Helpline. 25

26 Further information RNIB Helpline For details on all the reading services available from RNIB including our National Library Service and talking books. Information, support and advice for anyone with a sight problem, their friends and family. Telephone helpline@rnib.org.uk rnib.org.uk/reading Action for Blind People Action for Blind People is a national charity with local reach, providing practical help and support to blind and partially sighted people of all ages. Contact through the RNIB Helpline actionforblindpeople.org.uk Sightline directory The online directory for people with sight problems. You can find out what is available to help you both locally and nationally. sightlinedirectory.org.uk 26

27 National Talking Newspapers and Magazines Over 200 daily and weekend newspapers and national magazines available in audio and electronic formats. Telephone tnauk.org.uk Local talking newspapers The Talking News Federation can give you details of how to get hold of your local audio newspaper. Telephone tnf.org.uk Visionary Find out about your local society for blind and partially sighted people through Visionary. Telephone visionary.org.uk Reading groups This website lists hundreds of reading groups across the UK search by county to find one near you. readinggroups.org.uk 27

28 Reading Sight Information about all aspects of providing an accessible library service for blind and partially sighted people. Incorporates Your Reading Choices a free online tool that leads to a personal reading plan. readingsight.org.uk 28

29 We value your feedback Please help us improve the information we supply by sharing your comments on this publication. Please complete the form and return to: FREEPOST RSCB-GJHJ-HLXG RNIB Publishing, 105 Judd Street London WC1H 9NE (There is no need to use a stamp.) Alternatively, you can publishing@rnib.org.uk Please include your contact details if you request further information. 1. Where did you receive your copy of this leaflet? 2. Did you find that the information was presented in a way that was easy to read and easy to understand? Please give details of anything you feel could be improved. 29

30 3. Is there any information you would have found helpful, or were expecting to find, that was missing? 4. Further comments. Please use the space below for any other comments you have on the information in this leaflet or any aspect of your contact with RNIB /10/13

31 About the Confident living series The Confident living series is for people who are losing or have recently lost their sight and are trying to build their confidence to continue to lead full and independent lives. Other titles in the series are: Leisure Living safely Managing your money Shopping Technology Travel All these leaflets are available in audio, print and braille formats. To order please contact our Helpline on (all calls charged at local rate), or visit rnib.org.uk/shop. If you or someone you know is living with sight loss, we re here to help. For a full list of the information sources used in any of these titles please contact publishing@rnib.org.uk

32 RNIB Helpline If you, or someone you know, is living with sight loss, we re here to help. Ask RNIB is the simple, easy to use way to find the answers to your questions online try it today at rnib.org.uk/ask Cover photograph Anne-Marie Briscombe Printed: October 2013 Review date: October 2014 RNIB Registered charity number ISBN PR12366P