A GOOD READ

Christian literature in accessible media – braille, giant print & audio

Our vision is that blind and partially sighted people should be able to read what they want to read, when they want to read it and in a media that they prefer. Of course, this is far from practical, but it's something we strive towards through investment in technology, pursuing best practice in transcription methods and through partnership with authors and publishers.

On a more practical basis, Torch is working towards being able to provide blind and partially sighted people with what they need to read when they need to read it. If you need something to enable you to particpate in a church course or a Christian event then do contact Torch to see if we can help. Please let us know as early as possible so we can seek files from publishers to avoid the labour involved in getting accurate text.

Resources for Churches

Church can be a very challenging experience for blind and partially sighted period. On entering a church service we are usually offered something we need to read - a hymnbook, a Bible, maybe a Prayer Book, an Order of Service, a newssheet, and so on. Increasingly attention will be directed to images projected on a screen. It's all pretty off-putting if you can't see any of it.

Torch can do something to help Churches provide for blind and partially sighted people - resources that allow everyone to be included and involved. Click here for a summary listing or enquire at Torch House telephone 01858 438260 or email info@torchtrust.org.

Partnering with Publishers of Christian Books

There are four or five thousand Christian books published each year in the UK. At present we can only transcribe 150. This number has been growing and we expect it to continue to grow. To do more we need to work in cooperation with the publishers of Christian books.

In February 2006 at the Christian Booksellers Convention, we presented a partnering campaign to the major Christian publishers. You can download the information sheet we prepared for publishers to help them understand the reading needs of blind and partially sighted people. Click here. We are delighted to report that we have had an excellent response and are optimistic that this will lead to more Christian books being available in accessible media, and more quickly.

TORCH LIBRARY

A free postal Christian Library Service for blind and partially sighted people.

Libraries are important for visually impaired people. Books in accessible media – braille, giant print and audio – tend to be bulky and expensive to produce compared to the standard print editions.

The Torch Trust library is the largest collection of accessible Christian books in the English language – over 2,000 titles covering theological, devotional, missionary, biographical and Christian leisure reading.

To search the Torch Library catalogue to see if the title you want is there, or to find what books from a favourite author are available then click here.

The Torch Library is a postal library benefiting from the “Articles for the Blind” free postal service.

“This book came just at the right time for me.”

“I felt as though the author knew all about me and was writing the book just for me.”

“Have you got anything on forgiveness? We're studying it at church – and I desperately need to put it into practice myself.”

“I'd be lost without my audio books. It's like a friend coming into the house to read to me.”

“At last – a book with print large enough for me to read!”

“When I can't sleep, I love to get into one of your braille books.”

These are typical comments we've received many times over from our library users. The Torch Trust library contains all sorts of interesting books written from a Christian standpoint – books about people from all walks of life; about important issues which may be affecting us; or studies on Bible books or themes running through the Bible.

All age groups are included too: Children will find plenty of exciting adventures, either to read for themselves or to have read to them. We are happy to keep visually impaired parents supplied with books for their youngsters.

You can choose books yourself, or you can tell us authors or subjects that interest you and we will choose suitable titles for you.

We seek to produce as many books as possible in audio (on cassette and Daisy CD), in giant print [24 point bold] and in braille. If you request a specific book that we have in only one format, we'll offer it to you, even if it's not your usual one. For instance, we may have a book about marriage on cassette but not in braille, or some daily meditations might be available in giant print, but not yet on cassette.

Please contact us if you'd like to know more, see a sample of the kinds of books we produce, or join the library. Tell us whether you prefer cassette, Daisy CD, giant print or braille, and let us know if you can use any of the other formats.

Search the Torch Library Catalogue

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Due to copyright and postal restrictions, these books are ONLY available to registered visually impaired people, or those whose sight is less than N12 as certified by a medical practitioner. A suitable form for this latter purpose is available from Torch House. Contact us to request the form

OTHER LITERATURE FROM TORCH

The Torch Trust produces Christian literature in braille, giant print or audio. This includes . . .

REGULAR PUBLICATIONS:

Magazines, newsletters, daily Bible readings

FREE BOOKLETS:

A range of titles.

FOR PURCHASE:

Bibles, hymn and song books, selected books, Alpha course materials, Scripture text calendars and tactile greetings cards.

Also the Online Bible – the Bible for a PC – at a special discounted price for visually impaired users.

Megavoice audio Bible. A hand-held and solar powered electronic audio New American Standard Bible (NASB) read by an American reader. Three pairs of buttons allow selection of book, chapter and groups of 5 verses. Priced at £40 with the proceeds going to fund Bibles for Africa.

Daisy audio Bible. The TNIV (Today's New International Version) of the Bible on Daisy CD reader by English actors. Using a Daisy player selection by book, chapter, section and verse can be made. The New Testament is available at £3.99 (the Old Testament should be available in 2008).
 

THE TORCH TRUST FOR THE BLIND aims to overcome sight loss as a barrier to finding a personal faith in Christ and living a fulfilled Christian life. Torch provides Christian literature in accessible media (braille, giant print, audio and electronic) and promotes Christian fellowship among visually impaired people. Torch is active in the UK and around the world and, in some poorer countries, provides practical personal support to blind people.

CONTACT US for more information, to receive regular news and prayer pointers, to volunteer your help or make a donation – also, to obtain free literature for a visually impaired person or to link someone with a local Torch Fellowship Group. Go to Contact us for details .