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Public libraries in Western Australia are part of a single state-wide network which offers a wide range of resources about all kinds of disabilities, as well as books in large print, talking books, book and cassette kits, videos, captioned videos and CD-ROMs. If you don't see what you want at your local public library, ask your librarian to arrange for what you need.
Some of the most popular types of resources include:
Information About Disabilities
People with disabilities of all ages and their carers need accurate information about their disability or condition, whether of a physical, developmental, sensory, psychiatric or medical nature. They need books and other resources that tell them what to expect, to encourage them to assert their rights to equitable treatment, help them explain a disability to a child or to just enjoy stories whose characters reflect their own experiences.
Some examples of this type of material are:
Targeting Autism : What we Know, Don't Know, and Can do to Help Young Children with Autism and Related Disorders / Shirley Cohen
An informed and humane combination of up-to-date research findings, personal observations, and narratives from parents and adults with autism.
Living with Spina Bifida : a Guide for Families and Professionals / Adrian Sandler
Presents a wealth of useful information on the medical, developmental, and psychological aspects of this condition.
Steps to Independence : Teaching Everyday Skills to Children with Special Needs / by Bruce L. Baker and Alan J. Brightman
This popular, step-by-step guide has helped thousands of parents teach essential life skills to their children with disabilities.
Large Print Books
You can search the State Library Catalogue in a variety of ways to find large print editions. Our help page will let you make the most of your searches.
Here's some sample searches to get you started:
Catherine Cookson
Lists all large print books by Catherine Cookson in the entire collection. You may request these at your local public library.
AIDS
Lists fiction and non-fiction books in large print which deal with the subject of AIDS.
Some reference books, such as dictionaries and thesaurus, are available in large print. For example:
Collins Large Print Dictionary
Talking Books
Listen to audiobooks specifically recorded for people with print disabilities.
Read-Along Book and Cassette Kits
This is a popular resource for those who prefer to listen to a cassette while they read the book. These kits meets a range of needs, including easy reading for people with developmental disabilities, dyslexia and other reading difficulties.
Many kits are produced by Narkaling Incorporated and are available in various speeds to suit a range of reading abilities.
Narkaling Kits
A list of Narkaling titles available for loan through any public library.
Videos and Captioned Videos for the Hearing Impaired (Supertext)
You can search the State Library Catalogue in a variety of ways to
find videos. Our help page will let you make the most of your searches. An exciting range of videos for children and adults are available for loan from your public library. Look for the Supertext symbol on the cover.
Here's some sample searches to get you started:
Video Recordings for the Hearing Impaired
Lists about 300 open captioned (Supertext) videos for adults and children available in Western Australian public libraries.
Robbery Under Arms
Finds two versions of this classic Australian title.
Videos in Australia are captioned by the Australian Caption Centre.
Easy To Read Books and Adult Literacy Resources
Public libraries can help with literacy or numeracy. Some selected resources are:
List easy to read titles in Western Australian public libraries.
Many easy to read books suitable for adult literacy can be found in Western Australian public libraries and are identified on the spine by the international symbol for literacy.
Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Children's Novelty Books, CD ROMs
Public libraries are full of other fun resources, such as:
Children's Books with Tactile Components
Children with vision impairments need not miss out on books.
Graphic Novels
Classic heroes and new adventures in comic book format.
CD ROMs
A growing number of titles are to be found in your local public library, for use in the library, or for loan.
Languages Other Than English
For some languages, including Italian, Dutch, Swedish, German, Spanish, French, Chinese and Malay, there are limited numbers of books in large print, audiobooks or videos for loan through the Western Australian public library system.