Alternate Reading Methods for Individuals with ALS Reading is a very relaxing and enjoyable hobby that should not end with increased upper extremity weakness. When you are no longer able to physically access books, newspapers, and other print material, there are many options to retain your ability to access reading material. There is one commercially available page turner (GEWA Page Turner BLV-6 http://www.zygo-usa.com/blv6.htm), but it is not that effective, and it costs approximately $3000. With a page turner you are limited to one book at a time, and you are limited to those physical books that the device was designed to work with. The better way to access printed material is through audio recordings or electronically. This can be done by viewing printed material on a computer screen and/or listening to recordings of books/newspapers. 1. FREE - ALS Association Listening Library - The Great New York Chapter of the ALS Association has some books on tape available for loan. Call Chris Dunn at 212/720-3044 for more information. 2. FREE - Library Services - The New York Public Library - http://ebooks.nypl.org and The New Jersey State Library - http://www.njstatelib.org have many electronic and audio books available for free. (You can also get movies and other videos for free.) Some services are available to all library cardholders. Some special services may require some documentation of your disability. Your local branch can help you discover what services are available to you. Most local library branches have audio books available for check out. 3. FREE - Project Gutenberg - http://www.promo.net/pg offer famous and freely available important texts, over 10,000 books currently available. 4. FREE - National Library Service - http://www.loc.gov/nls offers books on tape free of charge to people with disabilities. 5. FREE - Classic Bookshelf - http://www.classicbookshelf.com offers classic books with the ability to change the color and font of the reading material. Many people have trouble reading electronically but with this website you can see the font and the color to your liking. 6. FREE - Children's Storybooks Online - http://www.magickeys.com/books offers illustrated stories for children of all ages. 7. FREE - Aurora Ministries - http://www.audiobiblesfortheblind.org provides a free copy of the Bible on cassette tape/CD/MP3 to anyone who cannot physically access the Bible. They have the Bible available in almost 70 different languages. 8. FREE/PAY FOR SERVICE - In Touch Networks - http://www.intouchnetworks.net provides a broadcast of reading service for may popular newspapers and other print media, including New York Times. If you access the service via the internet it free of charge. If you want to tune into the service with a special radio, You pay a one-time fee for the radio, but the service is free. 9. PAY FOR SERVICE - Bookshare - http://www.bookshare.org is a large database of books scanned by users that can be read on the computer screen and/or listed to on a computer. There is a $50 annual fee. 10. PAY FOR SERVICE - Audio-to-Go - http://www.audiotogo.com offered books on tape or CD that are shipped to your home for a monthly fee. 11. PAY FOR SERVICE - Audible - http://www.audible.com and Sounds Good - http://www.soundsgood.com offer digital audio books, radio shows, and audio versions of poplar magazines and daily newspapers for a monthly or yearly fee. The items are downloaded to handheld devices or personal computers. Submitted by: Antoinette Verdone, ATP Assistive Technology Specialist ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter 116 John St., Suite 1304 New York, NY 10038 212/720-3054 212/619-7409 fax verdone@als-ny.org --- I wanted to add Microsoft Reader to the list- http://www.microsoft.com/reader/default.asp Margaret Cotts