Customized Audio Recordings for the
Visually Impaired/Physically Impaired &
Learning Disabled Community

Introduction:

Established in 1965, Readings for the Blind is a 501c3 non-profit organization that records materials not available elsewhere in audio format. We provide services to the visually impaired, learning disabled, and those physically unable to hold a book or turn a page. Clients can be any age and live anywhere within the 48 contiguous states.

Our trained readers will record your materials on 2-track cassette, 4-track cassette or CD - per your direction and preference. Clients have the option of borrowing or purchasing the recordings once they have been completed. Maintaining a specialized library with nearly 1,000 titles, Readings for the Blind receives recording requests daily from individuals across the United States and within Michigan.

Important things our clients love about us....

• We Do Not charge membership fees and have a minimal $10 recording fee.
• We will record nearly any type of print material (textbooks, leisure reading, religious material, technical or instructional manuals, pamphlets, novels and more) as long as it is not available in audio format elsewhere.
• We custom record based on your needs (for example: excerpts from books, textbooks with chapters out of order, etc).
• Our CDs can be used in any standard CD player; you do not need to purchase a special player.

Readings for the Blind depends entirely on a team of dedicated volunteers who record and perform the day-to-day operating and office functions necessary to complete our mission. We continue this important work with financial support from individuals, private organizations and charitable foundations. Readings for the Blind does not receive any state or federal funding.

Mission Statment:

Readings for the Blind is a non-profit organization. We believe that printed matter should be accessible to all. We seek to accomplish this by creating customized recordings of books and other print material for the blind, vision impaired, learning disabled and the physically challenged.

History:

Readings for the Blind was founded in 1965, by Elizabeth Stone in Birmingham, Michigan. Mrs. Stone had two young sons who possessed vision problems and learning disabilities. Her boys were having difficulty keeping up with their schoolwork and Mrs. Stone wanted to get textbooks on tape to assist them with their studies.

Mrs. Stone knew other students needed this service as well, so in 1965 she founded Readings for the Blind with seed money from the Birmingham Junior League. More than forty years later this agency continues the original mission of producing customized recordings for anyone who is visually impaired, learning disabled or physically unable to hold or manipulate print material.

Very much a grass-roots organization, the agency functions under the direction of one paid staff member. A group of more than 30 committed volunteers record the books, duplicate recordings and run the day-to-day office operations.