For Persons with Visual Disabilities || For Persons with Hearing Disabilities

November 2008

For Persons with Limited Visual Disabilities

In October 2008, the librar purchased a text enlarger with funds from the McCaskill trust. The enlarger, called a telesensory Aladdin Apex Pro, will help people with limited vision, to magnify print or writing. It is easy to use. No reservations are required and the machine is available only at the Central Branch, 224 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA.

The Aladdin Apex Pro 20" screen enlarger will:

• display and enlarge text from books, perodicals, letters, pill bottles, coins and other print sources,
• change background and foreground colors of text or images to assist people in reading or writing, and
• allow a person to use horizontal or vertical lines or mask portions of text.

Patrons may contact Pam Downing at (831) 420-5752 or email downingp@santacruzpl.org if they have questions or need more information about the equipment.

In addition, the California State Library's Braille and Talking Book Library loans braille, cassette and talking books, magazines and playback equipment to northern Californians unable to read conventional print. Application forms for this service are available at any branch, or through Senior Outreach at (831) 420-5653.

For Persons with Hearing Disabilities

An FM hearing system (Phonic Ear) is available for use by persons with hearing disabilities during library sponsored programs. This assistive listening device works with a hearing aid, or without, to amplify the voice of a speaker, or the discussions of a group. Please call the branch seven working days in advance of the event if you would like to use this equipment.

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