
There are a number of different sources of free braille books available in the United States and Canada. In addition to the list below, there are numerous libraries and other sources through teachers of students with visual impairments or related organizations.
For tips on introducing tactile books to infants, toddlers, and young children, see: Tactile Books for Young Children by Dr. Holly Cooper.
American Action Fund for Blind Children
This program provides children who are blind with a free braille book every month from a popular children’s reading series. Click here to fill out the online application.
Braille Institute: Braille Special Collection
This braille literacy program from the Braille Institute provides children's books free of charge. Any child in the United States or Canada who is visually impaired is eligible to receive up to 12 free books per year from the Special Collection. VI teachers or educators may also subscribe to our Special Collection.
Braille Tales Print/Braille Book Program
This program is a partnership between APH (American Printing House for the Blind) and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Participating families receive six free print/braille books per year up to the child’s 6th birthday. To be eligible for the program:
- The parent or the child must meet the definition of blindness.
- The child must be age 5 or under.
- Both the parent and the child must reside in the U.S. or its outlying areas.
Click here to fill out the application online.
National Braille Press: Read Books! Program
National Braille Press distributes braille book bags to families with children, ages birth to seven, who are blind and visually impaired, across the U.S. and Canada. The distribution process is a collaborative effort with educators and early intervention professionals. In addition to the free print/braille books for different age levels, the bag includes information about braille for parents and families, as well as some tactile materials.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB): Braille Reading Pals Club
The Braille Reading Pals Club is an early literacy program designed to foster positive attitudes about braille for children and their families. It promotes a love of reading by encouraging parents to read daily with their child who is blind or visually impaired. Club members receive a print-braille book, an eNewsletter for families, braille activity sheets, and more!
Oakmont Visual Aids Workshop
Handmade braille and tactile books are created by a group of volunteers and made available free of charge to people worldwide who are working with children who are blind or visually impaired. Their products include:
Seedlings Book Angel Program
Children in the United States and Canada who are blind can received up to two free braille books per year. Click here for the online application.
Comments
Reading to a blind autistic child
Posted by Angelina mullings
Angelina is 6 has a big imagination my goal is to get her to talk in full sentances and maybe answer back as she is spoken to i believe reading will help her.
Ideas for a blind child who is autistic
Posted by Charlotte Cushman
We're so glad to hear that you're interested in helping her to communicate more fully! You may want to start by creating books about topics that she is especially interested in. Here are some ideas of activities that might be motivating to her:
By choosing things that she is interested in that relate to her own experience, she may be motivated to communicate. In addition the language will be more meaningful to her, since it will relate to her experience and interests.
Good luck!
Charlotte
Add new comment