Talking Times, Fall 2023 - Section 1

Free Telecommunications Equipment for Eligible Individuals with Combined Hearing and Vision Loss  

iCanConnect is a Federal Communication Commission (FCC) funded program, also referred to as the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP). iCanConnect provides free modern equipment and training for distance communication purposes to people with both significant vision and hearing loss, who meet disability and income guidelines.   

iCanConnect is a nationwide program with local contacts to help people stay connected with friends, family, their community, and the world. Each U.S. state and territory has a certified organization responsible for the program, including the Perkins School for the Blind, which administers services in twenty-three states and territories. People eligible for iCanConnect services receive a personalized assessment to identify solutions to support their distance communication needs. Then, participants are provided with equipment and training that meets their specific situation. Examples of equipment might include smartphones, tablets, computers, or laptops, large print screen magnification software, and refreshable braille devices.   

In Rhode Island, the Talking Books Library is responsible for the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program services in Rhode Island. Contact the Talking Books Library at (401)574-9310 for any questions about applying for the program, or to request an application in English regular print or large print, or braille, or available in print in Spanish or Portuguese.   

For other inquiries about the program, contact The National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (iCanConnect) Toll-Free:(800) 825-4595 or visit www.icanconnect.org. 

Collection Building Policy 

NLS patrons are invited to fill out the Book Recommendation form at https://tinyurl.com/NLSBookRequest to request books or magazines to be added to the NLS collection. NLS patrons should always check the catalog to see if we have a book before requesting it. Recommendations are reviewed for possible additions to the collection by the NLS Collection Development team, and only those published in the past five years will be considered. No personal information is collected on the Book Recommendation forms, and NLS cannot contact patrons about their requests. 

Braille Request 

The Braille on Demand pilot project allows patrons to request, receive, and retain up to five hard-copy braille books of their choice per month. Go to the Braille-on-Demand Request Form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NLSbrailleondemand to learn more or to request a title now.  

Jewish Braille Institute Library (JBI) 

Jewish Braille Institute is dedicated to meeting the Jewish cultural needs of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, physically disabled, or reading disabled by offering free Jewish interest books, magazines, and special publications in Braille, Large Print, and Audio format.  Books are compatible with NLS Digital player machines. Contact the JBI Library at 110 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016, or Telephone at 212-889-2525. Toll-free: 800-433-1531. https://www.jbilibrary.org/