<p>Over the last year, Mom has lost most of her sight to wet macular degeneration. She loves to read, but was never a TV fan. Most of the audio formats frustrate her. They don’t retain her place when she stops them, or they are just too hard to operate. I’m soliciting any recommendations for devices that are workable for a sharp 80 year old, but sight deficient. I have looked at Kindle since it offers more material, but I doubt the artificial audio will be adequate.</p>
<p>Try a google on audio books for the blind. This was the third link - [Home</a> Page of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped](<a href=“http://www.loc.gov/nls/]Home”>NLS at the Library of Congress - National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) | Library of Congress) this was next [Talking</a> Books](<a href=“http://www.lowvision.org/talking_books.htm]Talking”>http://www.lowvision.org/talking_books.htm)</p>
<p>Been there, thanks. I was hoping someone had an actual recommendation with experience.</p>
<p>Don’t know if you’re in a big city, but if you are, the Sight Center can help you with finding resources.</p>
<p>How about a local senior center? They might have some information.</p>
<p>The cd player that holds my place when I shut off the player is the one in my car. But we can’t have your mom sit in her car for hours listening to a book.</p>
<p>I can bookmark a spot when I use my mp3 player to play books, but you really need eyesight to work those tiny tiny screens.</p>
<p>A tape player is best way to stop an audio book in its tracks, but tape is a dying medium.</p>
<p>You might check into a very active foundation called Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic. They have a vast array of recorded books on CD’s that can be ordered for free once you’re a member. (A note from a physician is necessary to verify eligibility.) RFBD sells reading devices that will play the book out loud and keep your place. We don’t have experience with the machinery from the perspective of a blind person, but given RFBD’s mission, the mechanical devises needed for the CD’s must be usable by the blind. The readers who record the books are not always inspired, but this is definitely worth looking into. Here is their website: [Recording</a> for the Blind & Dyslexic: Accessible Audiobooks for students with visual impairment, dyslexia or learning disabilities](<a href=“http://www.rfbd.org/]Recording”>http://www.rfbd.org/). They are also quite helpful by phone and have local branches so that if there are issues in learning to use the machines, someone can help.</p>
<p>I just noticed that the word “student” is in the name of the organization, and I do not know if their services are available to elderly people who are not students. I certainly hope so! (Although, an elderly person could surely become a student by enrolling in a low-cost cc or adult ed course…) It is also possible that the folks at RFBD could simply direct you to a supplier that sells reading devices that will keep your place with any random CD.</p>
<p>My daughter become a RFB & D member last fall. They are wonderful. She has dyslexia and reading issues. I also know a visually impaired older teen who uses their services. The membership fee is low - a one time start up fee and $35/year. I don’t think one has to be a student to join.</p>
<p>There are three ways to use them–order and receive CD’s, download to a computer and sync to a MP3, or download to a computer and burn your own CD’s. We have done the first two options, usually downloading and then putting on her MP3. </p>
<p>To play their CD’s, one needs a DAISY format reader. We bought the Victor from them. It was $269. The player has many options–bookmarking, speeding up/slowing down the reader’s voice, etc. It has been designed with the visually impaired in mind.</p>
<p>They have a huge selection of books and are constantly adding new titles. Some readers are better than others, but ALL are better than the ones used by school textbook manufacturers. (they are torture!)</p>
<p>Their support people are kind and helpful too. Good luck in your quest.</p>
<p>I download books from Audible onto my mp3 player and it holds my place.</p>