Visual Impairments
Alternatives to Printed Documentation


This category provides the names of vendors or organizations who have documentation related to computer software and hardware in other than printed form. Examples of these alternative include braille and audio output.


1-2-3 Learning Disk

This training product for Lotus 1-2-3 provides instruction and is an alternative to the application’s documentation and tutorial material.
Hands-On Learning Corporation
27 Cambridge Street
Burlington, MA 01803
(617)272-0088

Audio Cassette Tapes

This audio cassette studio records documentation (hardware and software) by request; IBM Filing Assistant is available.
Massachusetts Association for the Blind
200 Ivy Street
Brookline, MA 02146
(800)682-9200 (617)738-5110

Audio Cassettes

Audio cassette training products developed specifically for the visually-impaired computer user. Several different products are available, including sets of cassettes for both DOS and Word Perfect.
Talking Computers Inc.
140 Little Falls St. - Suite 205
Falls Church, VA 220046
(703)241-8224

Audio Cassettes

These tone-indexed audio cassette training materials for software and hardware products, including Word Perfect, dBase III, Lotus 1-2-3. Rbase, Paradox.
Flip Track Learning Systems
999 Main St. - Suite 200B
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(800)222-FLIP (708)790-1117

Book Manager

IBM Book Manager is an online book product consisting of two programs, READ and BUILD. READ (5684-062) helps users view online information, track topics take electronic notes and mark a place to return to later. BUILD (5684-026) converts source files for printed books into online books. Used with screen reading products, this program makes more information available to blind users. Users with mobility problems can also use Book Manager to increase efficiency in accessing more sources of information. Callers should tell the IBM branch that online books are available via PROFS: LESVMK(BRAILLE).
IBM Corporation
IBM Telemarketing Operations
3035 Center Green - Plaza 2
Boulder, CO 80301
(800)426-3388

Braille Books for Children

Braille Books for Children is a collection of 95 titles averaging $8/book; a catalog is available.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
P.O. Box 2395
Livonia, MI 48151-0395
(313)427-8552

Braille Transcription and Duplication

Customized printed information in Braille format, including hardware and software technical manuals.
National Braille Association Inc.
1290 University Avenue
Rochester, MY 14607
(716)473-0090

Cassettes

This group provides the Bible on cassette free for the blind and vision-impaired. 30 languages are available.
Bible Alliance Inc.
P.O. Box 621
Bradenton, FL 34206
(813)748-3031

Cassettes

Expertly-taped materials provided free of charge to registered members.
Recording for the Blind
20 Roszel Rd.
Princeton, NJ 08540
(800)221-4792 (609)452-0609

Customized Braille

Direct Braille services, including text and technical material transcriptions. A depository of texts, music scores and general-interest materials are available.
Associated Services for the Blind
919 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215)627-0600

Customized Braille

Customized printed information in Braille format, including hardware and software technical manuals.
Braille Inc.
205 Worcester Court - C3
Falmouth, MA 02540
(617)540-0800

DOS Help!

This online DOS help software covers standard DOS manual explanations and examples. Additional information may be obtained by selecting highlighted key phrases on each help screen. It can be run from the command line or made resident. Package includes a tutorial.
Flambeaux Software
1147 E. Broadway - #56
Glendale, CA 91205
(818)500-0044

DOS-Helper

This online help system for DOS covers DOS and debug commands and most DOS manual topics. Standard and RAM-resident versions are included. Users may add their own help files.
Aristo Computers Inc.
6700 SW 105th Ave. - Suite 307
Portland, OR 97005
(800)3ARISTO (503)626-6333

DS Tutor

DS Tutor is a DOS tutorial which opens with a brief overview of the computer’s hardware, such as the keyboard, disk drives and video monitor. In continues with "DOS Overview," "DOS Command Line" and "DOS Transient Commands."
Design Software
19808 Nordhoff Pl.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818)885-9000

Easy DOS 3.2

This software provides online help with any PC-DOS command as well as lessons on how to use them.
Easyware Software Development Corporation
940 East 7th Place
Mesa, AZ 85203
(602)960-7957

Help-Me With DOS

This DOS tutorial provides a reference guide to 40 DOS commands and error messages with definitions, variations and examples. The program is available for free on selected bulletin boards, through shareware houses and from the company.
Public Brand Software
P.O. Box 51315
Indianapolis, IN 46251
(800)426-DISK

Online Books

Computerized Books for the Blind (CBFB) is a nonprofit organization providing written information in computer-accessible format to disabled persons. CBFB accepts requests from members and attempts to provide the written material in computer format compatible with the individual member’s equipment. Current titles include computer-related texts, Borland Manuals, Microsoft’s Manuals, IBM Manuals, a dictionary, a thesaurus, and the Bible.
Computerized Books for the Blind
University of Montana - Corbin Hall
Missoula, MT 69812
(406)243-2899

Reference Cards in Braille

Reference cards, in Braille, for various popular personal computer applications, including dBase, WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Word, DOS User’s Guide, ProComm, QWERTY and WordStar.
National Braille Press
88 St. Stephen St.
Boston, MA 02115
(6170266-6160

TECH help!

This online help tool for DOS gives programmers an encyclopedia of details from the DOS and hardware Technical Reference manuals and other sources. It describes DOS interrupts and functions, file headers, switch setting, video attributes, I/O control, differences between DOS versions and more. It runs from the command line or is resident.
Flambequx Software
1147 E. Broadway -#56
Glendale, CA 91205
(818)500-0044

Text Scanning

Text scanning provided by user sending a document to this company. OCR text scanning to disk in Wordstar, Multimate, DisplayWrite, Word Perfect, ASCII and others. Scanning of typeset books, manuals, publications, 6-24 point including roman and italic. Disk/tape conversions (bi-directional from PC< WP, 9-track tape and CP/M-DOS).
1ST Run Computer Services
1261 Broadway - Suite 508
New York, NY 10001
(212)779-0800

Text Scanning, Disk & Tape Conversion

Text scanning to disk or tape. Typed or typeset documents converted to any disk or tape format. Books, Directories, catalogs, photocopy printout, etc. Also disk and tape conversion to most computer system.
Media Conversion Corporation
800 Roosevelt Rd. D-106
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(708)858-4566

Verse Search

Verse Search contains the text of the Bible (NKJ, RSV, NIV, KJV) with a program to search, display and print any portion. Most speech synthesizers are supported.
Bible Research Systems
2013 Wells Branch Parkway - #304
Austin, TX 78728
(800)423-1228 (512) 251-7541

Voice-indexed Cassettes

Voice Indexing produces audio cassettes for print-impaired persons. Contact them for the list of titles that are available.
Voice Indexing for the Blind Inc.
7420 Westlake Terrace - #203
Bethesda, MD 20817
(301)469-9470
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