Perkins Library Helps Veterans, Others Enjoy Books
The Braille & Talking Book Library at Perkins School for the Blind offers free books on tape and in Braille to the blind. Veterans get first priority for audio equipment.
Larry Mangini of Swampscott goes through four or five books a month, but since he lost most of his sight in 1996 he relies on audio books he receives from the Braille & Talking Book Library at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown. Mangini served in the U.S. Army from 1966-69, and had a tour of duty in Vietnam with an engineering unit. He developed ischemic optic neuropathy and lost most of his vision in 1996. His life was completely overturned when he lost his sight. "I lost my sight, I got divorced – my life was a country song," Mangini said. The former police officer and veteran got back on track thanks to the help of support from the Veterans Administration (VA), the state Department on Disabilities. He attended UMass-Boston and …
