BLOG : Where to find Good Books for People with Disabilities

About eight years ago I realized that something very subtle was missing in my life. Gradually, over the previous years, my disability had progressed to the point where reading hard copies of books was almost impossible. Whether it was for personal enjoyment or professionally related to my work as a lawyer, an important part of my life had disappeared.

Thankfully, the availability and technology for a robust online library of digitized books was created right around the same time my disability had changed. With a little research and experimentation, I was completely back in the business of reading! Since discovering this this resource, I have downloaded and read scores of books on a wide range of subjects. Everything from theoretical political science to trashy novels, I have been able to enjoy.

Different Resources for Books
There are a number of different ways to take advantage of this resource. Public libraries are making available electronic books and I have downloaded materials from both the Brooklyn and New York public libraries. While these materials have the benefits of being free, I found the searching and particular formatting/software of the books difficult to use. Another free resource of electronic books is found in Google. Pretty much everything that is right protected by copyright (a little bit old) is available on Google.

If one is in a position to pay for reading materials, there are also electronic books available through a number of a number of different companies like Barnes & Noble and Amazon Kindle, as well as others. I have Kindle on both my cell phone and PC. However, paying for each book adds up, so this is not a perfect solution.

My Favorite Book Resource

By far, my favorite online reading resource is a paid, subscription library called Bookshare.org. Bookshare is a charitable organization that was created when copyright laws were amended to require greater accessibility to reading materials. Bookshare allows me to read the words on the screen, but the system can also be set up so that the materials are read aloud to the user. For an annual fee of $50, bookshare members can download an unlimited number of books. For students, the service is completely free and other than a one-time $25 setup fee, the price seems like a good investment.

Being able to take a brief mental vacation from the challenges of what makes living with a disability complicated, through reading, is a big part of my life. Regardless of your interests, I'm sure you'll find something interesting!

Written by TK Small