[nabs-l] Free Matter for the Blind

[Carly Mihalakis]

Sing it, sister Jewele!

Could not have articulated this better than you.
Is the Are they gonna do to the  FMB program gonna the same way they 
did the post offices? What a sad, sad thing! Like the postoffices, 
sad and utterly shameful!
Car 4/2013, Jewel 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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