Hobbies and Interests
There is no limit to the variety of sports and activities which people with disabilities can participate in these days. There are organisations and clubs all over the country offering opportunity and expertise for people who want to get involved. Here is a list of just some of the Sporting Groups and Organisations in Ireland which are providing the opportunity for people with disabilities to participate and compete in sport at a local, national and international level.
As people get older or if vision should become impaired, reading can become more difficult. But there are alternatives to the ordinary book which mean people can still enjoy books even if reading is no longer an option.
Large print: A publication usually using 16 point type size or larger. Can make reading printed material possible if reader simply requires larger text.
Audio cassette: A taped recording of a printed book.
Braille: A reading system using raised dots (Braille) so that a publication can be read through touch.
Diskette: When a publication is put on computer diskette, the user can gain access to information through a computer connected to a Braille printer, voice synthesizer, large print monitor or access the information through screen reading software.
Electronic text: Also known as e-text, this is a general term for any type of text that can be read on a computer. E-text can usually be read by print-impaired readers through some sort of text-to-speech device in which a computer reads the words aloud, or through a screen magnifier to give a larger view of the screen, or by using a larger computer font.
Digital audio: A type of audio that can be played on a computer. A CD is an example of digital audio but it can also take the form of a computer file that can be downloaded from the internet. Digital audio is often used these days for recorded books.
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Downloadable Audio Books
Listen to books on your computer, transfer them onto your MP3 player and enjoy them anytime and anywhere. All you need is an internet connection. There is an ever-expanding list of titles available to loan so for more information, contact the NCBI Library directly on 01-864 2266.
4-Track Talking Book Library
The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) operates a library service for people with vision impairments. Central to this is the large number of talking books. There are over 10,000 titles in stock from romances and thrillers to biographies and history. All of these books are high quality recordings and are read by professional actors. Catalogues are available in large print, on disk and on the NCBI website. For more information, contact the NCBI library.
The talking books are all recorded on 4-track cassettes and therefore they cannot be played on a standard tape recorder. The library provides members with a talking book machine - a specially designed playback machine that plays 4-track and standard 2-track cassettes. These machines are lent out free of charge to anyone who wishes to join the library. You need to be either registered with NCBI or else provide certification of your visual impairment. If you would like to apply for a talking book machine and borrow books from the library, email the NCBI library. You will then be placed on a waiting list until a machine becomes available for you. Books are sent through the post and there are no charges for postage.
Talking Educational Books
Every year the NCBI library produces audio recordings of textbooks from the current primary and secondary level curriculum. The books are available in audiotape or DAISY format (digital talking book).
The Braille Library
The NCBI also operates a Braille library with more than 3,500 titles available. A special feature of this service is the children's library which has books which have been specially adapted to include a Braille version of the text. These 'twin vision' books are suitable for children from about 4 to 8 years of age. Catalogues of books available are available in large print, on disk and on the NCBI website. There is no charge for this service or for the postage of the books.
The NCBI Library has access to over 100,000 audio and Braille books internationally. If a request for an audio or Braille book cannot be satisfied in Ireland, pending on availability, NCBI Library can borrow this book from another international source. For more information, contact NCBI library.
Large Print Library
The NCBI library has a collection of large print books for adults and juniors. The library holds a unique collection of large print books for juniors aged 8-15. For more information, contact NCBI library.
Magazines and Newspapters on Tape
The Drumcondra Project produces 2-track audio cassette tapes with extracts from a wide range of magazines and newspapers which are distributed to vision impaired service users. Tapes are posted out in special plastic mailing wallets with a reversible address label on the outside which you turn over to return the tape. The next issue is copied over this tape and sent out again. Publications include the RTE Guide, Woman's Way, Irish Gardens, the Sunday Independent, PC Live, Spokeout, Newstape, U and IT magazines, and the Irish Times. For membership details, costs of this service and a full list of publications available, contact the NCBI.
The National Council for the Blind of Ireland
NCBI Library
Unit 29, Finglas Business Centre
Jamestown Road
Finglas
Dublin 11
Tel: 01-864 2266
Fax: 01-864 2280
Email: library@ncbi.ie
Website: www.ncbi.ie
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The Internet enables us to have access to resources which we would not traditionally have had. There are online talking book clubs with extensive libraries of material which you can become a member of with the click of a button. Some have a join-up or subscription charge and others are free. Some provide the traditional audio cassette format and some provide books in various digital formats which can be read using synthetic speech: a computer-generated voice that speaks the text aloud. Such websites include:
www.calibre.org.uk (cassette library)
www.ebooks.com (digital format library)
www.gutenburg.org (digital format library)
www.powells.com/ebooks.html (digital format)
Many people are passionate about their garden and are reluctant to stop even if they are finding its management more and more difficult. But with the right equipment and some good advice, you might not have to stop.
Small handtools, such as forks and trowels, are the most frequently used tools in the garden so it is important to choose equipment which is most suited to your needs. In recent years, new materials and ergonomic handles have lead to lighter tools with more comfort and improved grip. Contoured handles are easier to grip and thicker handles are easier to hold for someone with arthritis eg Peta Easi-Grip tools. Longer handles or extended handles attached onto smaller tools can reduce the amount of bending over. Short-handled tools can make some equipment easier to use eg a short-handled rake instead of a traditional long handle for a wheelchair user. Advice on a wide range of different alternative tools for all the different gardening tasks is available on the website Carry on Gardening which provides people with information on how gardening can be made easier.
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Thrivewww.carryongardening.org.uk
Thrive is a UK horticultural charity that exists to enable disadvantaged, disabled and older people to participate fully in the social and economic life of the community. It provides expert advice on easier and accessible gardening for everyone, including older or mobility-restricted people, through its award winning website. It also produces various publications including books, magazines, information packs and leaflets which are available for purchase. A vast range of topics are covered including gardening for therapeutic benefit (adults and children), gardening for vision impaired gardeners, gardening for wheelchair users, gardening for gardeners with the use of one hand, and tools for easier gardening.
