One of the best things to do on a cold winter day is curl up inside with a good book. But if your vision is diminished, that may not be an option. Certainly, large print books help, but sometimes even those aren't enough. The print is still too small even with strong reading glasses or a magnifying glass.
For someone who has always loved reading that can mean losing an enjoyable and engaging pass time. Nothing to read can make their world feel smaller and more isolated.
But there are programs available that can help.
For example, the Library of Congress offers the National Library Service (NLS), a free braille and talking book library service for people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that prevents them from reading or holding the printed page. Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS circulates books and magazines in braille or audio formats, delivered by postage-free mail or instantly downloadable. My mother loved listening to her books on tape, using a free device provided by the Library Service. Here’s a link to their website, where you can find out more about the program and how to access the books: https://www.loc.gov/nls/
My mother also loved solving word search puzzles. If you’ve read our story, you know that’s how Supersized Puzzles was born! You can download a free sample puzzle pack here on our website and sign up to receive a free new puzzle every week. The free puzzle this week just happens to be about good books. Find it here:
We hope these tips help you or a loved one suffering with challenged eyesight find some enjoyment from reading - and puzzling - again!