Reading and Reading Materials

This is by no means a comprehensive list -- just some places to start!
Inclusion does not imply endorsement by RBI.

Braille

Since a single 6-dot braille cell can only represent 64 symbols/letters, there are various contracted, multi-character codes for more efficient braille, as well as distinct Braille encodings for various languages. There is also a Braille music code that is fairly standard among countries. Unified English Braille is replacing a variety of specialized English Braille rule sets for various literary, math, scientific, and computer uses. One unintended consequence is that developing nation libraries are receiving these [now obsolete] books.

Magnifiers (for use with regular or large print materials)

There are dedicated devices with screens (that you pass the printed material under). Some users find that extended use of these causes motion sickness.

An alternative is using built-in magnifiers on newer iPhones (and presumable Android phones). The "magnifying glass with light" feature on the iPhone is accessed by clicking three times on the home button, after you enable it at Settings >> General >> Accessibility >> Magnifier. (This is also really useful for looking in dark kitchen cabinets).

Bibles and Bible Resources

Websites and Apps

  • The free ESV Bible app (it looks like a monogram in a white square), that lets you hear a chapter or a couple of verses, and pause or stop, control the speed, change to white on black, and hear the study notes. Most of this functionality is also available at ESV.org, where you can listen and/or get a really large font by both choosing the large font on the webpage settings, and also zooming in with your browser.
  • Another possibility is the free Bible Gateway app or website, where you can also listen or expand the fonts, and also pick various Bible versions.

Portable Audio Players

Very large print

A number of editions are available on the web, such as the ESV Super Giant Print Bible (17 point), and the NIV Super Giant Print Bible (16.5 point). One downside is that they are quite heavy and bulky.

Symbolic Universal Notation (SUN)

SUN (Symbolic Universal Notation) is a program that brings Scripture to the illiterate deaf as well as the deaf-blind. Using a symbolic system of writing, the illiterate deaf who are not educated in sign language as well as the deaf-blind can read God's word for themselves.

It will be interesting to see if SUN (a permanent, fixed record) is a better approach for Scripture distribution than sign language (accessible by both deaf and deaf-blind; can be recorded for deaf; also allows interpersonal communication). Perhaps they will both find a niche for different purposes. SUN pages can be 3D-printed for the deaf-blind.

Other links

Producers of accessible reading materials (braille, large-print, audio)
Bibles and religious resources in special media



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