[nabs-l] Free Matter for the Blind

Sun Aug 4 23:19:41 UTC 2013

Yes I appreciate the explanation,  I am still a little confused as to how individuals use it.  I mean I just thought it was for places that ship books, etc.  i did not know that it was for anybody on an individual basis.... Then again.... I never thought about it.

Anna E Givens

On Aug 4, 2013, at 6:01 PM, Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> I apologize for misunderstanding your message. I hope that my email gives you an idea of what the Free Matter for the Blind program is all about and its importance to blind people and organizations, programs, and companies serving blind people's reading needs and desires. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them here or by emailing me directly. If I don't know the answer, I will do my best to find it. Again, apologies for the misunderstanding. 
> -Jewel 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Aug 4, 2013, at 6:49 PM, Anna Givens <annajee82 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> No no.... I am new to all this and said I did not understand it.... Thats all!  Thank u for an explanation.  It is appreciated.  
>> There are many other things I do not understand as well.  
>> So I have to ask.
>> Anna E Givens
>> 
>> On Aug 4, 2013, at 5:14 PM, Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> You are very welcome, Justin! And for the person who thinks Free Matter for the Blind is not useful, consider this. This is the program that allows the Library of Congress to send Braille books, large print books, and digital books to people all across the country. Also, consider the cost of sending a Braille book versus a print book, especially when the Braille book may be fore or even more volumes. Consider the cost of sending a letter on tape to a penpal versus sending one handwritten or typed in small font. Even if the letter is just a little bigger, say font size fourteen, it will probably require more postage than if it were font size ten. I don't know the exact comparative costs, but I can promise you that if the Library of Congress had to pay shipping, they would quickly go to downloads only, leaving thousands of clients who don't have access to a computer, either on a regular basis or at all, without equal access to books, magazines, and other offered media. That, I believe, would be a real shame and an outrage. At the same time, buying a Braille or large print book online and having it shipped to you would soon become prohibitive to many people who already have a hard time making the book purchase, because many blind people are unemployed and living in poverty off SSDI and SSI. Making the shipping of Braille and large print books more expensive than regular print books simply because of how people read would lead to inequality of access to the printed word. Its not like we can just go to our local bookstore to buy a Braille book... We almost always have to have it shipped to us. 
>>> I apologize for the length of this message, but as you can see, I am a strong supporter of the Free Matter for the Blind program. It gives blind people equality and opportunity that would simply not be there without the program. 
>>> Sincerely, 
>>> Jewel 
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>> On Aug 4, 2013, at 5:43 PM, Justin Young <jty727 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Oh thanks Jewel.  I recall I've seen it on various items I've got in
>>>> the past and was curious about it.  Thanks so much!
>>>> 
>>>> Justin
>>>> 
>>>> On 8/4/13, Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>> You don't need to sign up to use the free matter for the blind. Just write
>>>>> it in the upper right section of the envelope, where postage would go. There
>>>>> are also stamps and stickers. They are available to purchase online, though
>>>>> I can't remember who sells them. They are great for people whose handwriting
>>>>> is not the best, like mine. If I wrote on the envelope, they would give it
>>>>> back as illegible!
>>>>> Do keep in mind that Free Matter for the Blind is not just for Braille. You
>>>>> can also send large print, font size fourteen or larger, but it must be
>>>>> typed. Anything handwritten in the envelope, such as a check or written note
>>>>> for the blind recipient's sighted family member, will exclude the entire
>>>>> envelope's or package's contents from being shipped through this program.
>>>>> Other things that can be shipped Free Matter for the Blind include tapes and
>>>>> CDs, slates and styli, and, if I remember right, Braille paper, such as
>>>>> would be used in an embosser.
>>>>> You should be able to find the complete guidelines for what can and cannot
>>>>> be sent if you Google for it.
>>>>> Hope this helps,
>>>>> Jewel
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Aug 4, 2013, at 4:49 PM, Justin Young <jty727 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi All,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hope you are doing well!  I was wondering if any knew how the Free
>>>>>> Matter for the Blind worked when sending items through the post mail?
>>>>>> Do you have to sign up for something or can one send braille items and
>>>>>> just write "Free Matter for the Blind"?  Wasn't sure thanks in
>>>>>> advance!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Justin
>>>>>> 
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