Seeking to increase Braille literacy by offering free books to visually impaired children.

What is the Braille Special Collection?

How does it work?

Who is eligible?

Is there anything available for pre-schoolers?

Are teachers eligible?

How do I sign up?

The Braille Special Collection seeks to increase braille literacy by offering blind children the opportunity to order a variety of books throughout the year, free of charge, to create a special library of their own.

Early braille education is crucial to literacy. A recent study found that those who learned braille at an early age did as well or better than their sighted peers in several areas, including vocabulary and comprehension.

We have a transcribed collection of classic and contemporary literature and nonfiction material encompassing more than 1,100 titles and appealing to all reading levels.

As subscribers, children and their parents receive:

A print-and-braille catalog of approximately 10 titles in each of 3 different age ranges.

They may select 4 fiction or nonfiction titles three times a year.

Titles include picture books, classic and newly released chapter books, Newbery Award winners, popular series and young adult novels. Nonfiction includes how-to books, cookbooks and reference materials.

For preschool through third grade, we include a printed text output of the braille books that are ordered.

Any visually impaired child who is living in the United States or Canada and is between the ages of 3 and 18 is eligible for the Braille Special Collection Program.

To introduce our youngest readers to storytime, Universal Media Services has created the DOTS FOR TOTS and Tactales programs. More than just a books, these multi-sensory learning kits encourage parents and their pre-schoolers to read more and begin learning braille. Click here for more details about DOTS FOR TOTS and Tactales.

The Special Collection is a program funded specifically for children and their families. If you are a teacher or librarian who wishes to order books for your classroom, school, library or own use, you may sign up for our Partners in Literacy Program.

To sign up for the Braille Special Collection, click here, or send us e-mail at: ums@brailleinstitute.org

Include the full name of the child and/or student, the child's age, home address, telephone number, and e-mail if one is available.

You can also call us directly at:(323) 906-3104
Or call toll free at 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553)
Phone hours: Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm (PST)

Literacy studies of both sighted and blind children show that those who grow up with easy access to books become better readers. Early braille education is crucial to literacy. A recent study found that those who learned braille at an early age did as well or better than their sighted peers in several areas, including vocabulary and comprehension.

Our own subscriber survey results demonstrate that by providing current, popular books that children can keep, they are reading more, are more interested in reading for pleasure and are reading at a higher-grade level than prior to program participation.

Since the program's launch in late 1999, we have completed two surveys of all 2,300 subscribers: the first in 2001 and again in 2003.

On average, our respondents are reading nearly 3 books per month more than last year.

82% of parents completing the survey indicated their child's interest in reading has increased since subscribing. The remaining 18% indicated their child's interest in reading has remained the same.

There appears to be a positive correlation between length of participation and improved literacy levels.

-50% said their child was reading below grade level prior to subscribing to this program.

Of those who had subscribed for two or more years, just 17% were identified as reading below grade level.

Conversely, 6% were above grade level for reading prior to subscribing.

42% of those who have subscribed for two to three years are above grade level.