Disability services: Listening libraries (updated)

For some people with a chronic illness/disability audiobooks can be more accessible for a number of reasons.

There are a number of listening libraries available free of charge to those in the UK who need to access audiobooks whether it be because of a visual impairment or a print disability. There are also ones you can subscribe to. I have listed the main listening libraries we have in the UK.

So what is a ‘Print Disability’?

My Irlen’s glasses

A print disability covers a wide range of things. 

It could mean you struggle to read print because of a specific learning disability like dyslexia. You could have Irlens Syndrome (also known as Scotopic Sensitivity). Also you don’t have a visual impairment but you struggle to read standard size or written print. 

Print disabilities also cover cognitive difficulties with reading such as poor concentration, brain fog and conditions like brain injuries. 

They also cover physical difficulties with books too. For example struggling to hold a book or turn a page due to disabilities and conditions like having a Spinal Cord Injuries, MS, arthritis, M.E., MND, Parkinson’s and more.

I also feel that Print Disability’s should include difficulty reading, using and holding e-readers as well.

Listening Books

Listening Books is “an audiobook lending charity for those that find their illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book.”

Their books can be accessed through their website or through the Libby audiobook library app.

Magazines and newspapers can also be accessed.

To qualify for Listening Books you must have a disability, illness, learning disability or mental health condition that impacts your ability to read or hold a book.

Membership costs £25 for the year. When you sign up there is a long list of medical conditions and you can select your conditions to be eligible to join. 

If there is a title Listening Books doesn’t have that you’d like to listen to you can contact them and if they can buy the book they will add it to the library. This is something that I have done before.

BorrowBox

BorrowBox is a library in one app, from it; from it audiobooks and eBooks can be borrowed.

It’s a free service some local libraries now use to allow members to access digital content. You can check with your local library to see if they’re using BorrowBox.

Link to BorrowBox: Find out if your local library is using this service.

RNIB Reading Services

RNIB Reading Services is open only to those who are blind, partially sighted or has a print or physical impairment that prevents them from reading standard print.

Their Reading Service is available in a number of different formats. There is a link between Amazon’s Alexa and RNIB’s talking books. They also offer books in braille and now a new service e-Braille. Books can also be loaned on Daisy CD’s and USB. They also have a library of books through the Dolphin EasyReader app audiobook library.

As well as books magazines and newspapers can also be accessed on audio.

Calibre Audio

Calibre Audio is a “a UK-based charity providing a audiobook lending service for people with a print disability.”

“Who can join… We support anyone unable to see, read, or comprehend printed text due to difficulty or inability. This can include:

• A specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia 
• A brain injury or cognitive impairment such as head trauma or stroke
• A visual impairment or blindness 
• Physical dexterity problems, such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, MND
• Learn more on who can join
  

For those over 25 the fee is £3 a month or £30 for the year. For those using the USB stick service for books or those under 25 the service is free.

Calibre Audio uses to Dolphin EasyReader app or the Libby app, streaming through their website, USB stick, and through the Synapptic software used by those with visual impairments. 

Link to Calibre Audio

Audible

This is a well known listening library. I often find Audible has titles other listening libraries don’t have and some audiobooks are exclusive to Audible.

There are different subscription levels each with different benefits. You can pay monthly or yearly. Often there are offers to get Audible for free or at a reduced rate. You can also buy more credits to buy books. Sometimes there are 2 for 1 offers too, so you can on selected titles get two books for one credit.

Link to Audible

Kindle Unlimited

You don’t need a Kindle to access Kindle Unlimited. You can download the free Kindle app onto your phone or table too (both Apple Store and Android). Kindle Unlimited offers unlimited access to a wide range of ebooks, with quite a wide selection that come with audio which you can listen to via Audible without paying for Audible. You can choose to do a mixture of reading and listening or you can purely listen to the book if you wish.

You do have to pay for Kindle Unlimited but there are often offers such as free trials of the service.

Link to Amazon Unlimited: if you sign in you can view what offers they have available which may include a free trial.

Everand

This listening library has now changed since the last time I used it. It now operates similar to Audible with different levels of membership all at different fees and each with different benefits. I do think this is a bit of a shame as before you just paid one subscription fee and it gave you access to unlimited audiobooks and ebooks. There is however an offer for 30 days free subscription if you wanted to take advantage of Everand for 30 and listen to what they have on offer for that free month.

Link to Everand

Polite Notice

I have made it clear who is eligible for certain listening libraries. Please only sign up if you meet the eligibility criteria for that service; not just because you want to access free audiobooks. By kindly following this criteria you allow that charity to provide a service free of charge and grow their service to those they provide for.

Thank you.

M.E. and my Genetics - Decode ME Study results

Back in October 2023 I wrote a post about the Decode ME Study. It surveyed people with a diagnosis of M.E./CFS and then from there individuals like myself were selected and asked to donate a DNA sample to contribute to the overall study. 

The aim was to see if M.E. had any genetic links which, with further studies and research could find more effective ways to understand, diagnose and treat M.E. in a more scientific and medicalised way. Currently M.E. is diagnosed based on the symptoms reported meaning other conditions could be missed or a person may be misdiagnosed. Also because of the distinct lack of funding into research in M.E. (The Decode M.E. Study is the biggest of it’s kind), M.E. is poorly understood in terms of how it affects individuals and why we experience the symptoms that we do. This means there is no clear way on how to treat M.E. and clinicians especially those who don’t specialise in treating M.E. like GP’s have no clear way on how best to care for a patient with M.E. Plus with symptoms currently only being self-reported it’s difficult for GP’s when it comes to issues such as prescribing medications. GP’s are also most likely to be the primary doctor for a person with M.E. as getting into specialist M.E. services can be difficult.

Well, the Decode M.E. results are in and the main findings really surprised me but also gave me hope and also me me feel heard and believed. I wanted to take them running to my GP and other doctors and a say ‘see its real I’m not making it up’ especially to try and stay on some of my medications that help me manage the severity of my symptoms.

The results of Decode M.E.

So firstly which surprised me the most my genes contribute to my chances of developing M.E.! - So like the the infection (we’ll come to that part) - for many people like myself an infection triggered their M.E. - this then turned on that genetic switch inside me and caused me to develop M.E. (That’s how I picture genetic contributions).

Those with a diagnoses of M.E. have significant differences in their DNA compared to the general population. 

Eight genetic signals have been identified. As our DNA doesn’t change the onset of a person’s M.E. reflect causes rather than effect of M.E.

The signals discovered are involved in the immune and nervous systems indicating immunological and neurological causes.  - For me my M.E.has always presented as neuro-immune with its symptoms like how my immune system falls apart when I’m exhausted along with wide ranging multi systemic symptoms as well.

At least two of the signals found relate to the body’s response to fight off infection. - Like I mentioned above M.E. for many is caused by an infection, often viral. For me it was the flu which lead to a bad chest infection. I also find that I find it harder to recover from illnesses. During the pandemic I was so scared because of this too.

Other signals found point towards the nervous system. One of which researchers previously had found that in people experiencing chronic pain which reinforces neurological contributions to M.E. - For me this validates my pain. When doctors don’t understand why I’m in pain and want to reduce my medication I want to wave this at them and say ‘My M.E. is genetic and it has signals to my nervous system which is why my whole body is in pain and I feel different types of pain. See it’s real it’s not all in my head! Please don’t leave me in pain!’

The signals found align with how people with M.E described their illness.

Source: Action for M.E - For more on the results of Decode ME click here to go to the study’s website.