Free Braille Books And Multisensory Reading Kits For Visually Impaired Children In The United States And Canada

Various organizations across the United States and Canada offer free braille books and reading materials to support literacy and a love of reading among children who are blind or have low vision. These programs are designed to ensure that young braille readers have access to the same literature as their sighted peers, often providing books in both contracted and uncontracted braille. The available resources range from monthly book subscriptions to multisensory storybook kits that incorporate tactile elements.

Braille Tales Print/Braille Book Program

The Braille Tales Print/Braille Book Program is a collaborative effort between the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. This program provides free books that feature both print and braille to children under the age of six who are blind or have low vision, or whose parent is blind or visually impaired.

• Eligibility: The program is open to children five years old and younger who meet the vision criteria.
• Frequency: Participants generally receive six books per year.
• Availability: The program serves children in the United States and its territories, including American Samoa and Puerto Rico. Approximately 10,000 books are mailed annually.
• Content: The selection includes at least one bilingual Spanish/English book each year.

The Braille Bindery

The Braille Bindery is a dedicated source for free braille children's books. They offer nearly 2,000 popular titles for blind or low-vision children to read and keep.

• Format: Books are available in both contracted and uncontracted braille.
• Standard: All materials utilize United English Braille (UEB).
• Selection: Parents and guardians can browse the Book Lists page to make selections.
• Requests: The organization encourages users to contact them if a specific book is not found in their catalog, as they are willing to accommodate requests.

Seedlings Braille Books Program

The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults operates the Seedlings Braille Books Program, which has distributed over 330 titles since 1997. This program is designed to help blind children build a personal braille library.

• Volume: The program distributed over 45,000 braille books in the previous year alone.
• Frequency: Eligible children can receive one free braille book per month.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be blind or have low vision and be braille readers.
• Ordering Process: To order, applicants browse the Seedlings catalog and add six books to their cart (excluding 3- and 4-volume books); the program then sends five books. Detailed instructions for online ordering are provided, along with paper registration forms available on the catalog page.
• Geography: This program is available to residents of the United States and Canada.

Braille Institute - The Braille Special Collection

The Braille Institute offers the Braille Special Collection program, which focuses on increasing braille literacy and fostering a passion for reading among children.

• Eligibility: The program is open to any visually impaired child living in the United States or Canada. Parents, educators, and paraprofessionals are encouraged to subscribe.
• Frequency: Participants may receive up to four books per year, with two storybook kits available per cycle.
• Cost: The kits are provided at no charge.
• Contents: Each storybook kit is multi-sensory and includes:
  • A picture book with uncontracted braille overlays.
  • A learning tool that represents characters or concepts from the story.

CVI Book Nook

CVI Book Nook specializes in creating materials for students with cortical visual impairment (CVI) or low vision. Unlike the other programs that mail physical books, this resource offers digital tools for customization.

• Format: They provide downloadable PowerPoints of book pages.
• Customization: Parents and teachers can customize these materials by adding specific photos, changing the background, adjusting font size, or altering colors to suit the child's unique visual needs.

American Action Fund - Share Braille

The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults also runs the "Share Braille" program. This is a community-driven initiative designed to facilitate the exchange of braille materials.

• Service: It is a free, online service functioning as a community-run library.
• Function: Registered users can both share their own braille materials and request materials from others at no cost.
• Events: The program hosts an annual Braille Book Fair during the National Federation for the Blind’s National Convention.

Conclusion

These programs provide vital resources for blind and low-vision children in the United States and Canada, ensuring access to braille literacy materials at no cost. From the monthly book delivery provided by the Seedlings Braille Books Program to the multisensory kits from the Braille Institute and the customizable digital offerings from CVI Book Nook, there are diverse options available to support early literacy and a lifelong love of reading. Parents and educators are encouraged to explore these specific programs to find the resources that best fit the needs of the children they support.

Sources

1. APH ConnectCenter FamilyConnect - Free Braille Books for Children
2. The Braille Bindery
3. Braillebug - Braille Resources
4. Braille Institute - The Braille Special Collection