Reading Tools
Bookshare provides two free DAISY readers and free voices for reading Bookshare books. You need to be logged in as a Member to download this software.
Before you proceed, please read these important instructions on how to download and open books.
Microsoft® Windows®-Based Software
- VictorReader Soft Bookshare Edition by Humanware
VictorReader Soft version 2.6, launched August 2009, with multiple improvements to existing functionality. We encourage everybody to download and install this new version. It is designed for people who are blind or have low vision. Use this software if you are a screen reader user and want a fuller-featured DAISY reader. For additional information, visit the Humanware website.
- To download this software, you need to be logged in as a Bookshare Member.
- Victor Reader Soft User Manual
- READ:OutLoud Bookshare Edition by Don Johnston
This DAISY reader is designed specifically for people with learning disabilities. It is not recommended for use with screen readers. This software features high-quality text-to-speech for multi-modal reading, spotlighting, note-taking and other study skill features, an online dictionary, and more. For additional information, visit the Don Johnston website.
- To download this software, you need to be logged in as a Bookshare Member.
- Read:OutLoud Bookshare Edition 30-Minute Tutorial
- READ:OutLoud User Manual
- READ:OutLoud Release Notes
- Acapela TTS Voices by Acapela Group
For Windows XP users who are seeking a better quality synthetic voice, Bookshare offers free Acapela TTS voices for download. The file is 200MB, so please only download this file if you need better voices on your computer. For additional information, visit the Acapela Group website.
- To download this software, you need to be logged in as a Bookshare Member.
Software for Macintosh® computers
- READ:OutLoud Bookshare Edition by Don Johnston
This DAISY reader is designed specifically for people with learning disabilities. It is not recommended for use with screen readers. This software features high-quality text-to-speech for multi-modal reading, spotlighting, note-taking and other study skill features, an online dictionary, and more. For additional information, visit the Don Johnston website.
Read:OutLoud Bookshare edition is currently compatible with Mac OS 10.4 Tiger and 10.5 Leopard. Bookshare is working to make the software compatible with Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard. If you would like to be notified when this is ready, please provide your name and email to the notification list.
- To download this software, you need to be logged in as a Bookshare Member.
- Read:OutLoud Bookshare Edition 30-Minute Tutorial
- READ:OutLoud User Manual
- READ:OutLoud Release Notes
- Acapela TTS Voices by Acapela Group
For Mac OSX users who are seeking a better quality synthetic voice, Bookshare offers free Acapela TTS voices for download. The file is 200MB, so please only download this file if you need better voices on your computer. For additional information, visit the Acapela Group website.
- To download this software, you need to be logged in as a Bookshare Member.
There is also an additional Macintosh reader to be available later in 2009. In the meantime, Mac users can read Bookshare books in their browser.
Additional Tools
In addition, there are a number of other technologies designed to make reading material available to people with print disabilities. The tools listed here work with Bookshare books. They are organized into three broad categories:
Additional resources include:
Tools for People with Visual Impairments
Portable DAISY Players
- Victor Reader Stream
- Icon
- Braille+
- Book Port (this product is discontinued, but still used by many Bookshare Members)
- BookCourier
Scanning, Reading and Writing Software
Screen Reading Software
Screen Magnification Software
Web Access Software
Braille Notetakers and Displays
- Braille' n Speak, Braille Lite, Focus Braille Display, PAC Mate, PowerBraille, Type' n Speak, and Type Lite
- BrailleNote and VoiceNote
- Braille Sense and Voice Sense
Scanning and Reading Hardware
Tools for People with Learning Disabilities
Portable DAISY Players
Scanning, Reading and Writing Software
- WYNN
Visit Bookshare’s detailed instructions for using WYNN with Bookshare books. - Kurzweil 3000
- TextHelp
Reading Software
General Tools
DAISY Format Readers
Text to MP3 Converters
Accessible Book Providers
- American Printing House for the Blind
- Assistive Media
- Books Aloud
- Braille Institute
- CAST
- National Braille Press
- National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
- Recording For the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D)
Electronic Book Collections
- Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg has given Bookshare permission to include all Project Gutenberg public domain books in specialized formats for Bookshare library. - B&R Samizdat Express Classic Collections of books on CD-ROM
- Children's Books CD
- American Literature CD
- British Literature CD
- Non-Fiction CD
- World Literature CD
- Religion CD
- Baen Free Library
This is a website where any author can, at their own personal discretion, put up online for free any book published by Baen that they so desire.
Other Resources
- National Federation of the Blind Computer Files
- Apple Computer Disability Resources
- Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference
- Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference at California State University at Northridge
This list of resources is intended as a general overview. Other organizations such as Closing the Gap maintain much more detailed resource lists.