audio books on MP3/CD for blind person?

tinkerbell84

I've just been talking to a colleague. Her brother is in a residential home (has been for a few years from what I can gather) following a massive brain heammorage (sp). This has left him with a brain injury which impeeds his speech, and has also left him completely blind.

He is having some trouble at the home because he has no outlet for his frustration. His children have never visited him in the home, and his wife visits just once a week. The home is state run, and the staff don't have time to spend time with the residents - they don't speak particularly good english either. The TV is on news 24 all day, and it just repeats around and around. There is no counselling or support for residents.

Clearly my colleague's brother is frustrated by his condition, and the isolation he feels while in this home

I've suggested that she buy him a CD/MP3 player and then bring him audio books and music to listen to - this way he would have some choice and control over what he does, and may reduce his frustration.

As he lost his sight suddenly, he hasn't learned braille, so I think audio is the way to go. He adores music too, and would listen to it all day.

So I'm looking for a suitable MP3/CD player that my colleague could buy her brother. Something robust, portable with big, easy-to-use buttons so that he doesn't need anyone else to help him with it.

Has anyone found anything like this for relatives or friends? Where can I look? A google search threw up some on the RNIB website, but they were about £200 each and my colleague would prefer something a bit cheaper to start with.

Thanks for your help!

margaretclare

Hello

Apple computers:
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore?node=home/shop_ipod&cid=OAS-EMEA-KWG-UK_Top_KW_Exact-UK&aosid=p202&esvt=GOUKE105224146&esvadt=999999-0-1098540-1&esvid=103460


Try Audible: http://www.audible.co.uk/aduk/store/welcome.jsp

Unfortunately I don't know of an MP3 player with large buttons.

I've found my iPod to be an absolute godsend - especially during a recent hospital stay.

HTH

tinkerbell84

I showed her my (old) ipod which has a large click wheel on it, but she didn't think he'd be able to use it (he can't see the screen, being blind).

Mojisola

I think she needs to chase up her brother's social worker and maybe Occupational Therapist as well.

He should be getting more help than he is and they should have some of the answers.

magic57

You can borrow talking books from the local library. Some are on tape but lots now on CD. When my dad had a stroke he loved to listen to talking books on a tape player.

I work with a young blind child and use a tape cassette player for her. She can manage it. I put a raised sticker on the play button. If you need some stickers send me a pm and I'll post some to you.

It's this one.Voice activated too.
http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk/display_item.asp?n=11&c=27&sc=140&id=2627&it=1&l=0&d=0

I got mine off ebay for £6.00 though.

I wish him a good recovery.

Maybe if he had something like this members of the family might send him messages to play.

Tigsteroonie

Don't just look on the RNIB website - contact them and ask about the Talking Book Service. You can rent a suitable player from them for about £76 per year, I know it's still expensive but it's a subscription service that includes all the books - and they have access to many more titles than are sold as audio books.

The RNIB can also help with heaps of other stuff - it's worth chatting to them. They have regional offices too, and it may be more informal to contact a local office first.

(Can you tell I'm an ex-employee? )

macchicken

You can buy MP3 players with pre-loaded audio books, they might be a bit easier to work.
Or go all retro and buy tapes, tape players have bigger buttons.

poe.tuesday

there is this one but it's £175
http://www.viplayer.co.uk/

there is this thing that plays music
http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw050407&select=1#1

there maybe something on this site that may be of interest
http://www.blindcooltech.com/

another website here that maybe able to help
http://www.hartgen.org/

and you never know, this just might be okay
http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=2620&e=fp3landing

tinkerbell84

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Don't just look on the RNIB website - contact them and ask about the Talking Book Service. You can rent a suitable player from them for about £76 per year, I know it's still expensive but it's a subscription service that includes all the books - and they have access to many more titles than are sold as audio books.

The RNIB can also help with heaps of other stuff - it's worth chatting to them. They have regional offices too, and it may be more informal to contact a local office first.

(Can you tell I'm an ex-employee? )

Thank you so much - that sounds perfect.

Thanks for all the other suggestions too - I'll show them to her tomorrow. She's not very well herself and this is really not helping her cope with life.

I've never met her brother, but I feel really really sorry for him.

tinkerbell84

Mojisola wrote: »

I think she needs to chase up her brother's social worker and maybe Occupational Therapist as well.

He should be getting more help than he is and they should have some of the answers.

The resources are completely stretched. He's bored out of his mind and has no control over what happens to him (from what I can tell). I'm not surprised he loses his temper with frustration.

Mojisola

tinkerbell84 wrote: »

The resources are completely stretched. He's bored out of his mind and has no control over what happens to him (from what I can tell). I'm not surprised he loses his temper with frustration.

That's really sad!

It could be any of us - not a happy thought.

I hope you can get him sorted out with audio books. That should give him some relief.