CHARLESTOWN – The Charles Town Library is expanding its services to people who are visually impaired or have reading differences, offering new iPads to assist with reading.
The iPad was purchased with a grant from the National Federation of the Blind, and the effort was led by Keryl Rustin, president of the Eastern Panhandle Chapter, who is visually impaired.
“Before the pandemic began in 2020, Keryl Rustin, who is blind and is now president of the (National Federation of the Blind Eastern Panhandle Chapter), was trying to get funding to get some kind of equipment for people who are blind. People who are visually impaired or have some kind of learning difficulty, like dyslexia… So we were looking for a device for people with reading differences, learning differences, vision differences. ” said Charlestown Library Director Marcella Gentz.
Over the past few years, since libraries started working toward acquiring the devices, they have become smaller and cheaper. This led the library to apply for funding from the National Federation of the Blind.
“Interestingly, six years ago, the only things out there were huge, clunky devices that cost a lot of money. As time goes on and technology advances, small iPad devices and smartphones have overcome all of these difficulties. We can do anything that people who have them can use to overcome them,” Gentz said. “So I think the iPad here is for people who come to the library and have trouble reading. You use the camera to read a page, and the device reads that page for you. They can also be read aloud to someone with dyslexia, so anyone trying to learn to read can use this as a reading device.
“You can come to the library and try things out and see if you actually want to get your own device. ”, it makes much more sense than using the device at the library. ”
The library’s main goal is to give people with visual impairments and reading differences the same opportunities as everyone else through the use of iPads. The iPad comes with several apps, including text-to-speech, a text recognition tool that provides text conversion, and a one-step reader. Braille and text highlighting for people with low vision or dyslexia.
“The key word here is accessibility. What we’re always trying to do is make information accessible, not just readable. We want it to be accessible to everyone who wants it. I hope that’s everyone,” Gentz said. After all, because of age, accessibility (is important) to provide an equal opportunity to people who probably don’t have devices. ”
Other apps you can use include Seeing AI, Natural Reader, Voice Dream Radar, Vision for Blind People, Sign School, and Microsoft Translator, which can be used to communicate with people who speak different languages.
“This is very beneficial, because in today’s day and age, a device like this to help people is a must in my opinion. “It’s not only going to help people who are blind, it’s going to help people who are blind, but it’s going to help people who are dyslexic,” said Martinsburg Public Library, which introduced a similar device about 10 years ago. said Mr. Rustin, who helped.
“Ten, 12 years ago, that equipment was primarily for blind and visually impaired people, but now with new technology, it can actually be applied to many other different areas. Libraries have become very essential. Reach out to the community and share with the community that something like this is available. There are a lot of people who can’t afford to buy devices like this themselves. Masu.”
Gentz said library staff is available for anyone who needs assistance with iPads or apps.
“We’re basically happy to teach people how to use this device. Let’s say you have your own smartphone, which is basically just a smaller version of an iPad with a phone attached. , we don’t know much about these. There are apps that exist to help us that we can talk to you about and demonstrate to you,” Genz said.
Gentz said the goal is to eventually be able to purchase another iPad and check out. It all depends on how much your current iPad is used.
“If this gets off the ground, I’m hoping we can get another one and people can see it,” she said. “If we decide a second time is necessary, we will work with (Rustin) to obtain additional funding.”
