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Assistive Technology

For further information about any of these assistive technology devices or special services, please contact Jo Bonell at jbonell@dppl.org or at (847) 376-2789.

Adapt-a-Lap

Adapt-a-Lap The Adapt-a-Lap is a device that holds printed material for persons who want or need to have their hands free while reading. It is useful for persons who cannot hold a heavy book or awkward magazine. This device can be checked out for eight weeks.

Chicagoland Radio Information Service (CRIS)

Chicagoland Radio Information Service (CRIS) Chicagoland Radio Information Service (CRIS) is a not-for-profit organization that provides free, current information and in-depth news to people who cannot read printed material due to visual or physical disability. With this special CRIS radio receiver, a person can listen to verbatim readings of local and national newspapers and a variety of magazines, as well as special programming. The receiver can be checked out for up to eight weeks.

Desktop Magnifier

Photograph of man using the Optelec magnifier Six desktop magnifiers, one with a color monitor and five with black-and-white monitors, are available for home use by visually impaired individuals. Each magnifier enlarges print material by several times and displays the images on a screen. The machines can be checked out for up to eight weeks. A larger desktop magnifier stays in the library on the fourth floor.

JAWS and MACic with Speech

JAWS andMAGic with Speech are special software programs that help visually impaired patrons read or listen to what's on their computer screen. The software is installed on various computers on the second and fourth floors.

SARA: Scanning and Reading Appliance

Photograph of man using the SARA, or, Scanning and Reading Appliance The SARA machine easily transforms text from books, magazines and other printed material into spoken words. As the words are "read," they also appear in large type on the attached monitor. The SARA, or, Scanning and Reading Appliance, was purchased by the Friends of the Des Plaines Public Library and is located in a study room on the third floor.

Traveller

Photograph of the Traveller portable magnifying machine with a phone book page being magnified The Traveller, is one of two portable magnifying machines available for eight-week checkout from the library. It's battery-powered and can be taken anywhere a person needs to read smaller print.

The smaller QuickLook portable magnifying machine also can be checked out for eight weeks.

Special magnifying glasses are available for use in the library. They are at the service desks on all four floors.

Wheelchair

Wheelchair This wheelchair is available at the Registration Desk for persons who would have difficulty walking in the library. It was donated by Oakton Place.