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Thank you for the great conversation about the continuum of legal blindness and the different ways that blind people read.

I'm a reader for a man at The Associated Blind in Chelsea who runs a blind Book Club. He gets recordings from the library -- or, on occasion, I'll read a few chapters into a tape recorder -- distributes the tapes and leads the discussion a week later. My man is a serious reader; he probably reads 100 books a year. His living room is packed with hardcovers. I'm thrilled to hear that his situation isn't unusual, and I'm going to check out some of the technology mentioned by your callers.

he sounds like a big picture person to me and as they are all saying a keen intellect - also like an antidote to the difficulties of life in the government in Albany.

For the record, the numbers in vision measurement stand for the size of type (second number) that can be read at 20 feet (first number).

So, 20/20 means you can read the second smallest letters on chart from 20 feet away. 20/200 means that all you can read from 20 feet is the giant "E".

there are many successful people who have gotten by though they are semi or completely illiterate

Councilman Joseph Melillo of the North Ward of Newark who served in the 50s and 60s was totally blind. He was also an attorney. He served his contituents with excellence and was a beloved figure in Newark.

I am very moved that we now have a blind governor. I think it says very good things about our society, our fairness, our value of the individual, our efforts to give all our children opportunities. It is especially nice since with illegal wars and bombings and threats on countries, ridiculous incarceration rates, etc., we are reminded, Yes, this is a society with many redeeming qualities.

What's the best reading software these days anybody?

Most americans get through the day without reading. He atleast has n excuse.