reading and recording

In 2010, Blind Service Association (BSA) volunteers helped over 250 clients, read more than 14,000 hours of material at six separate sites in the Chicago area.

BSA provides reading services to any visually impaired Chicago area resident who is either a 1) highschool senior or 2) an adult 18 years of age or older.

Clients bring in a broad range of materials to be read, including textbooks, novels, legal transcripts, recipes and mail. BSA sets no restrictions on the content of the materials clients choose to have read.

Volunteers receive an orientation at our downtown office or satellite site. They learn how to read and describe various types of written materials. Please contact Karine Rosvold (email) or call at 312-236-0808 if you are interested in becoming a volunteer reader.

Clients of BSA may take advantage of a variety of specialized equipment during their reading sessions. Braillers, slates and styluses, four-track tape recorders, computers with speech recognition programs, internet connection, electric typewriters, and closed circuit televisions (CC-TV's) are available if needed during reading sessions.

Reading services are available during regular business hours at our downtown office. The hours of operation at BSA's five satellite locations vary. Please contact our downtown office at 312-236-0808 for more information.

Blind, Visually Impaired and Dyslexic clients who live anywhere in the United States may bring in or mail to Blind Service Association (BSA) books or other written material for audio recording. Recording of books take place at BSA's downtown office.

BSA sets no restrictions on the content of the materials consumers choose to have recorded. Also, BSA will only record material that has not been previously recorded through other private or governmental agencies. Please check with Library of Congress and Recordings for the Blind for availability of your material.

BSA uses standard Library of Congress 4-track reading format and digital format.

To take advantage of BSA's recording service or to volunteer to record material, please contact Karine Rosvold (email) or call BSA's Downtown office at 312-236-0808.