Application for Talking Book Services

Internal Links
Eligibility / Certifying Authorities / Veterans / Application Forms/Aplicación / Address

External Links
School Service

Related Links
Student Resources for Reading Disabilities / Want to become a Demonstration Site? / Getting Started with the Talking Book Program / Loan Policy / National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS)

The Talking Book Program is available to Texans with visual, physical, or reading disabilities that prevent them from reading standard print. In order to receive our free services, please fill and/or print out the Talking Book Program application, sign the agreement (electronic typed signature accepted), complete the information, and have the form signed by a professional ("certifying authority") who can certify that you meet one of the following criteria for service:

Eligibility

Qualified patrons include Texas residents of all ages:

• An individual who is blind.
• An individual who has a visual impairment that makes them unable to comfortably read standard print books.
• An individual who has a physical disability that makes it hard to hold or manipulate a book or to focus or move the eyes as needed to read a print book.  
• An individual who has a perceptual or reading disability.

Certifying Authorities

The list of professionals who are authorized to sign the application form are listed on the last page of the form, which states:

Eligibility must be certified by one of the following: public or welfare agencies (such as an educator, a social worker, case worker, counselor, rehabilitation teacher, certified reading specialist, dyslexia specialist, school psychologist, superintendent, or librarian), registered nurse, therapist, professional staff of hospitals, institutions, doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, ophthalmologist, optometrist, or psychologist. 

Veterans

By law, the Talking Book Program gives priority service to veterans of the United States armed forces who have received an honorable discharge from military service and who are blind or have a visual, physical, or reading disability.  For further information, please call 1-800-252-9605, or send an email inquiry to tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov with subject heading, "Veteran Status Verification."

Application Forms

If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer, you must first download it and install it on your own computer before you can print out the PDF version of the Talking Book Program application.

Follow these links to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader:

 

Get Acrobat Reader

Talking Book Program Applications

• Individual Application (English)
• Individual Application (Spanish) 

School Registration and Application

• Annual Classroom Registration
• School Classroom Application

 Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Assisted Living Facilities application

• Institutional Application [pdf]

• Demonstration Site Information and Application

   

Address

After you have completed the application, please mail it to:

Talking Book Program
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
PO Box 12927
Austin TX 78711-2927

or fax to: 512-936-0685 (fax)

or email to: tbp.services@tsl.texas.gov