If you are not familiar with what a PDA does and what features to look for to suit your needs, please first read our discussion about PDA features. The link at the bottom of that discussion will bring you back here.

[all other links on this page open a new window to EnableMart.com]

PDAs can be divided into two categories: some are running a proprietary suite of applications optimized for blind users, using the Windows CE operating system as an underpinning. Examples of this type are

Pocket Hal is a full screen reader, complete with Braille support for the Pocket PC.

Braille Sense or BrailleNote's KeySoft interface, with applications optimized to work with a braille display. This is a photo of BrailleNote PDA for the blind and visually impaired:

Voice Note is for people who prefer high quality speech output without a Braille display. Most of the same great features of the BrailleNote are packed into an even smaller and lighter unit. Choose from either a Braille key or QWERTY input.

TADI Talking Organizer is a PDA that uses a keyboard and voice recording for input and speech for output. Has a phone book, appointment diary, notepad, calculator, alarm clock, timer, and five hours of recording time. It comes in English, Spanish, and French.

Voice Sense has a a Perkins style keyboard for inputting information and synthesized voice for outputting information. It has multimedia functions: a Daisy talking book player, an MP3 player and voice recording capabilities. Wireless networking features (such as wireless LAN and Bluetooth).

The second type are those running on the standard Pocket PC suite of applications. Examples are

Pac Mate or any Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition- or Windows Mobile 5.0-powered devices running Mobile Speak Pocket. There are several models of Pac Mate. The Omni BX400, for example, comes with a braille keyboard and optional detachable braille display. Includes JAWS for Windows CE for speech output and Windows Mobile 6.0 with Pocket versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer plus calendar, e-mail, contacts, FSEdit (braille word processor), FSCalc (financial and scientific calculator), Media Player and other applications. Full desktop synchronization through ActiveSync.

Maestro, a pocket PC made accessible using text-to-speech technology and a tactile keyboard over the PDA touch screen.

 Linux PDAs

These PDAs use the Linxux operating system instead of Windows CE:

The Icon, manufactured by LevelStar, is a Linux-based screenless PDA designed for the blind. Therefore all of the applications installed on the Icon are guaranteed to be completely accessible to the blind. This is a strong advantage to users who like using PDAs but do not want to buy an off-the-shelf PDA which may contain inaccessible third-party software. The Icon comes with a text-to-speech program, a telephone-like keypad and a context-sensitive help feature that can be activated from within any application.

The BRAILLEX EL Braille Assistant is a universal communications tool and a state-of-the-art Braille display for other computers. Send and receive e-mail or surf the web, make notes or organize your day, share information with other devices or access your Windows based PC. BRAILLEX Braille Assistant offers this with quality refreshable Braille and easily understood speech — in many different languages.

Accessories

EasyLink keyboard is a pocket-size, Braille-input Bluetooth-enabled keyboard that works with either a PDA or a cell phone using Talks software. Two models are available; one has a Braille keyboard, while the other has both the keyboard and a twelve-cell refreshable Braille display. EasyLink comes with PocketWrite software and a PDA. You can buy just the EasyLink Braille display if you already have a PDA or other equipment and wish to use EasyLink with it. The Bluetooth wireless connectivity makes this device truly portable.

The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. and Adult Life Products
1839 Frankfort Avenue
P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085
800-223-1839 (U.S. and Canada)
502-895-2405
502-899-2274 Fax
[link opens in new window]E-mail: info@aph.org
catalogs@aph.org (request a catalog)

American Printing House for the Blind (APH) offers braille products, books, and supplies; large-print books; computer software and access; labeling and marking; lighting; low vision; mobility devices; personal care; recreation and leisure; talking products; and writing and reading devices.

Ann Morris Enterprises, Inc.
Division of Independent Living Aids, Inc.
P.O. Box 9022
Hicksville, NY 11802-9022
1-800-537-2118 (Toll free)
516-937-1848
516-937-3906 Fax
AnnMorris.com
E-mail: can-do@independentliving.com
[link opens in a new window]

Ann Morris supplies the following independent living products[all links open Ann Morris web site in a new window]: bath accessories, canes and walkers, CCTVs, clocks and timers, computers and technology, cooking, educational, electronics, food and novelties, games, recreation, health care, household, jewelry, lamps, magnifiers, personal care, pet supplies, talking items, telephones, watches, writing, and financial management.

Beyond Sight, Inc.
5650 S. Windermere St.
Littleton, CO 80120
303-795-6455
303-795-6425 Fax
E-mail: support@beyondsight.com

Beyond Sight offers braille displays and embossers; computers; software; mobility aids; clocks and watches; adapted games; kitchen aids; health and beauty aids; lamps and bulbs; writing aids; magnifiers; helpful gadgets; note takers; recorders and players; telephones; video magnifiers.

Copper Dots
Craft Books in Braille
Marjorie Arnott
4233 East La Costa Drive
Sungroves, AZ 85249
480-345-8773
[link opens in new window]E-mail marnott@extremezone.com

Copper Dots offers patterns and books in braille for knitting and crocheting. Recipe books are also available.

Future Aids: The Braille Superstore
2190 Dolphin Crescent
Abbotsford, BC
V2T 3T1 Canada
800-987-1231 (Toll free and Fax)
www.braillebookstore.com
E-mail: info@braillebookstore.com

Future Aids offers a Braille Workshop and a wide range of braille products: housewares, toys and games, books, calendars, greeting cards, printing services, signage, business cards, and a computer lab.

Howe Press at Perkins School for the Blind
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
617-924-3434
617-926-2027 Fax

Howe Press supplies Perkins Braillers and accessories; Perkins slates, talking book accessories, and provides brailler repair.

Independent Living Aids, Inc.
P.O. Box 9022
Hicksville, NY 11802-9022
800-537-2118 (Toll free)
516-937-1848
516-937-3906 (Fax)
[all links on this page open in a new window]
E-mail: can-do@independentliving.com

Independent Living Aids (ILA) offers bath accessories; canes and walkers, CCTVs; clocks and timers; computers and technology; kitchen aids; electronics; food and novelties; games; recreation; health care; household; jewelry; lamps; magnifiers; personal care; pet supplies; talking devices; telephones; clocks and watches; writing materials and supplies.

LS&S Group
P.O. Box 673
Northbrook, IL 60065
800-468-4789 (Toll free)
866-317-8533 (TDD)
847-498-1482 (Fax)
www.lssgroup.com[all links on this page open in a new window
E-mail: info@lssonline.net

LS&S specializes in products for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, and hard of hearing, including talking watches, talking calculators, magnifying glasses, lighting, recorded book players, daily living products, mobility and orientation, assistive technology, amplified telephones, assistive listening devices, alerting systems, vibrating alarm clocks, TTYs, and other communication devices.

Magnifying Aids
1780 Main Street, Suite A
Dunedin, FL 34698
866-691-2450 (Toll free)
727-234-0664
727-491-3857 (Fax)

Magnifying Aids offers braille; clocks and watches; computer software and access; diabetes management; kitchen and housekeeping; labeling and marking; lighting; low vision; mobility devices; personal care; recreation and leisure; talking products; telephones and accessories; writing and reading devices.

Maxi-Aids
42 Executive Boulevard
Farmingdale, NY 11735
800-522-6294 (orders)
631-752-0521 (information)
631-752-0738 (TDD)
631-752-0689 (Fax)
E-mail: sales@maxiaids.com

Maxi-Aids offers alerting indicators; assistive tools; braille products; canes for the blind; labeling and marking; large print; lighting; low vision products; magnification; players/recorders; radios; games, recreation, and leisure; sewing aids; talking products; writing and reading aids.

National Braille Press
88 St. Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115
888-965-8965 (Toll free)
617-266-6160
617-437-0456 (Fax)

National Braille Press[link opens in new window] (NBP) is a nonprofit braille printer and publisher offering braille books, magazines, textbooks, tests, and customized embossing services.

The National Braille Press Bookstore[link opens in new window] has books for adults and children, print books for sighted teachers and parents, and braille gifts. 

Everything Braille provides sources of braille publications, adaptive technology, tactile graphics, braille fun and games, and braille music.

The Library of Congress
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
1291 Taylor Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-707-5100
202-707-0744 (TDD)
202-707-0712 (Fax)

Find Braille and Talking Books

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), [link opens in new window]Library of Congress, administers the Braille and Talking Book Library Service, a free program that loans recorded and braille books and magazines, music scores in braille and large print, and specially designed playback equipment to residents of the United States who are unable to read or use standard print materials because of visual or physical impairment.

Local cooperating libraries throughout the United States mail NLS audiobooks, magazines, audio equipment, braille books, and braille magazines directly to enrollees at no cost. If you or someone you know is interested in receiving Talking Books, please click here to fill out a request form. Talking books and magazines and braille publications are delivered to eligible borrowers by postage-free mail and through a network of cooperative libraries. Religious publications include: Bibles, Other Scriptures, Liturgies, and Hymnals in Special Media.

Search the NLS catalog [link opens in new window] for braille and talking books, braille and large print sheet music, digital books, maps, and more.

Update:

On March 1, 2007, the National Library Service announced that C-1 and E-1 cassette players would no longer be produced. This gradual phase-out of cassette technology will make way for the production and distribution of digital talking books and players.

During the digital transition, NLS will continue to circulate and repair cassette book machines through the year 2011 until the digital transition is complete.

• Read the news release about the phase-out
• Read the news release about the competition to design a new digital talking book player, which will be called a "Dook".

RehabMart

Discount Rehabilitation and Medical Supplies
150 Sagewood Drive
Winterville, GA 30683-1563
800-827-8283 (Toll free)
706-213-1144
603-843-2144 (Fax)
www.rehabmart.com  
E-mail: info@rehabmart.com  

Offers a wide range of blindness and low vision products and equipment, including braille, canes, home management devices, writing aids, large print, magnifiers, talking products, men's and women's watches, and toys and games.

Scottish Braille Press
Craigmillar Park
Edinburgh EH16 5NB
Scotland
0131 662 4445
0131 662 1968 Fax
E-mail: enquiries.sbp@royalblind.org

The Scottish Braille Press[all links on this page open in a new window] produces a range of magazines and books that are sold to blind subscribers at the price of the original print copy. The range of books and magazines available is provided in their catalogue, which can be downloaded in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF formats. 

The William A. Thomas Braille Bookstore
Braille International, Inc.
3290 SE Slater Street
Stuart, FL 34997
888-336-3142 (Toll free)
772-286-8366
772-286-8909 (Fax)
E-mail: info@brailleintl.org

The William A. Thomas Braille Bookstore offers adult fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books. Call or write for title and price information.