Gitalia S. from Canada told the JBI that the books became a lifeline for her. “Sometimes the voice of the narrator is the only human voice I hear during the day.”
As an outgrowth of its audio book service, the JBI helps facilitate Talking Book clubs, all over the world. As in a regular book club, the members read a book and get together periodically to discuss their latest read. In this way, the JBI provides an important social outlet to those who often feel left out of typical peer interactions. “I would need a dire emergency to miss the book discussion group,” says Sally C., a Florida participant.
Large Print books are another key item JBI prints and lends. What’s wrong with the local library’s Large Print selection? According to Mr. Israel Taub, Vice President and CFO, pretty much everything. He explains that the size of standard large print is certainly larger than average, however, to many with severe vision impairment, it is still too small. Another common problem is that the standard paper quality allows for what is known in the printing world as “bleed” – the text from one side of the page is visible from the other side, forcing someone with a vision impairment to work much harder to distinguish the text he or she is trying to read. The JBI uses a font size that is larger than the average large print and special paper to prevent bleed.
Large Print and Talking books make up the bulk of requests made to the JBI because to many people Braille signifies blindness and disability in a way they cannot ignore. Many concede to using large print and audio books because they don’t have to admit to their disability in quite the same way. This is particularly true for the aging population, which makes up the majority of users of JBI materials. In fact, the organization found it necessary to switch from being called by its full name, the Jewish Braille Institute, to its acronym, JBI, due to the reluctance many feel to being affiliated with “Braille.”
Although many with a visual impairment are against ceding to the benefits Braille books provide, Braille printing is no small part of this JBI operation. While adults may be averse to learning this unfamiliar language, children learn rapidly. It is certainly easier for them than for an adult and much more necessary. Keeping up in a classroom is much harder, nearly impossible, if the only tools available are audio ones. Braille textbooks and worksheets are extraordinarily valuable to these children. Toward that end, Mrs. Arlene Arfe makes every effort to service their needs. Worksheets in English and Hebrew are transcribed upon request. All a parent or teacher has to do is submit the worksheets in a timely manner to allow for the approximately two-month turnover time.
When Mrs. Arfe receives a request, she first transcribes the text onto a regular Word file, essentially retyping the entire material. After careful proofreading, it is run through a special program that converts it into the Braille alphabet. It is then printed by means of a special Braille printer which creates the raised dots on the paper. Chumash, Navi, science, math – you name it, she transcribes it. Literally.
As tedious as the work can be, it is tremendously gratifying. Mrs. Arfe shares. “It’s incredible when a parent tells you, ‘I never thought I’d see my daughter learn to read Hebrew.’ And you know that it is the efforts of JBI that made it possible for a young Jewish girl to have a full share in her community and heritage.”