Assistance
Activity Classes
The Philomatheon Society offers an activity group to all visually impaired persons, family & friends. Activities is a group of people sharing friendships, stories and time spent together. The Activity group meets on Thursday’s, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. (During winter months they usually meet every other week. Please contact the office for dates)
The group offers fellowship, games such as bingo and left-right-center, and crafting with Angela. For more information, call the society office @ (330) 453-9157.
Braille Classes: The Philomatheon Society offers Braille classes, free for members and a minimal charge for non members. These are set up individually for each client.  For more information, call the Society office @ (330) 453-9157.
Scholarships
2026-2027 Scholarship Announcements
Congratulations! to the Ann Black Scholarship 2026-2027 recipients. The Philomatheon Society of the Blind is proud to award two scholarships this year. One recipient is from Lehman Early College High School and plans to attend Ohio State University and pursue a career in Assistive Technology for the visually Impaired, the second recipient is from Tuslaw High School and plans to attend Muskingum University and pursue a career in Business and Human Resources.
Our best wishes to these recipients through their education and success in their chosen careers.
Scholarship Information
Application for Scholarship:

Since 1978, The Philomatheon Society of the Blind has made a scholarship grant available each year for a qualified visually impaired Stark County high school senior or qualified former student.

The grant is for one thousand five-hundred dollars ($1,500.00) for each of two years of college or advance training. Any visually impaired high school senior or former student who qualifies for such a grant, may apply to The Philomatheon Society of the Blind @ 2701 W. Tuscarawas St., Canton, Ohio 44708. Applications may be obtained by calling The Philomatheon Society of the Blind office at (330) 453-9157.
We would appreciate it if the school principal or counselor could assist the student in completing and returning the application.
If you are interested in more information regarding the Ann Black Scholarship, please contact our office (330) 453-9157 for information or an application.
**VISUALLY IMPAIRED/LEGALLY BLIND:Â The term “Blind Individual” means an individual whose central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye, with correcting lenses, or whose visual acuity is greater than 20/200 but is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision, such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees. (Section 23 (y) of the Revenue Act of 1944).
Talking Book Program
READING IS FOR EVERYONE
The Philomatheon Society of the Blind is the sub-lending agency for the Talking Book Program which serves five counties and over 1,500 patrons.
The Talking Book Program is a government program that is ran by The National Library Service (NLS), part of the Library of Congress (LOC), which produces recorded books and magazines, braille books, and all the equipment needed for listening.
People with visual or physical handicaps can still enjoy reading through The Talking Book Program. Â Talking books are available on loan to eligible readers across the country. The Philomatheon Society serves the counties of *Stark, Tuscarawas,*Â Harrison, Holmes and Carroll counties.
*The Stark County Library and Tuscarawas County Library are now the sub-lending agencies for the program in their counties, BUT, The Philomatheon Society is still available to serve ALL with their talking book needs, no matter where you are from*.
Talking Books and magazines are narrated by professionals and produced on digital cartridges.  Our society loans the digital  player to the eligible patron and the books come from The Ohio Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled(OLBPD) at The Cleveland Public Library.
The talking-book program serves readers of all ages. Older adults are a big part of that group. Of the 30 million Americans over sixty-five, many are temporarily or permanently unable to read standard print due to visual loss.
What kinds of books can I get?
More than 67,000 biographies, bestsellers classics , mysteries, romances , westerns, poetry books, histories, children’s and how-to books are available. Music materials, bibliographies, catalogs, and some foreign-language titles are also circulated to eligible readers. Titles on health and fitness for seniors as well as books on retirement activities and the rights of older adults may also be borrowed. You are also eligible to loan Described Movies from OLBPD. (Described movies have a narrator who will describe the scenes to you. Many newer movies have this feature available, check your language settings on your DVD player to see if the movie has the “Described Video” selection.)
How do I get them?
Your books will come directly from The Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled at the Cleveland Public Library on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. You can participate directly from your home by postage-free mail. Books and equipment are all loaned free. You can choose your own books or let the library pick for you.
How do I apply?
Call our office at (330)-453-9157 for more information or an application
State Library of Ohio (Columbus) 614-644-6895 or 800-686-1531
Ohio Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled (Cleveland) 216-623-2911 or 800-362-1261
BARD – BRAILLE AND AUDIO READING DOWNLOAD
BARD is a free service, once a patron, you can sign up for BARD and download your own books and/or magazines on a digital cartridge for flash drive to use in your book player. Contact the OLBPD to sign up for a BARD Account.
The Society or OLBPD can assist you in downloading books. The Philomatheon Society has blank cartridges and mailers for $15.00, they are 4GB and can hold many books.
You can also get BARD MOBILE on your Apple or Android device. This makes taking your book on the go, very easy and accessible.Â
Visual Aids
We have a small show case of items for the Blind and Visually Impaired
It includes, but not limited to:
- Talking Watches
- Talking Clocks
- Braille Paper, Slate & Stylus
- Raised line paper
- 20/20 pens (felt markers)
- Check guides and signature guides
- Large Print Calendars
Can’t find what you need?
We have a couple catalogs that you can order from.
Now accepting PayPal.
AND, through the generosity of others, we also have available a free loan program of CCTV’s (closed circuit televisions) A CCTV is a magnification system, a self contained unit which allows the user to magnify the item they are wishing to read onto a television or monitor to the size they need to be able to read it comfortably. The CCTV’s we have available, have been donated to the Philomatheon Society and we loan them out to individuals in need. This is first come, first serve basis.
Helpful Links
This page will be used to give you links to additional web sites, that will help you along the path to find the information you may be seeking.
If a link does not work, please search the web for information you are looking for, or contact our Office 330-453-9157, we may have other information or could assist in a search.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
READING MATERIAL – BOOKS
Ohio Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled/Cleveland Public Library –Â https://cpl.org/Â
American Printing House for the Blind – aph.org Â
National Braille Press –Â nbp.org Â
NFB News Line –Â nfbnewsline.org Â
 American Action Fund – actionfund.org Â
Seedlings Braille Books for Children – seedlings.org Â
Braille Institute of America –Â brailleinstitute.orgÂ
Xavier Society for the Blind –Â xaviersocietyfortheblind.orgÂ
Luthern Braille Workers, Inc. –Â lbwinc.org Â
Braille Book Store – braillebookstore.org Â
Bibles for the Blind and Visually Handicapped International – biblesfortheblind.org Â
Choice Magazine Listening – choicemagazinelistening.org Â
WEYE Seeing Eye Radio/Radio Reading Service – goodwillakron.org Â
Christian Record Services –Â christianrecord.org Â
MISCELLANEOUS
American Optometic Assoc – low income – free eye exam –Â aoa.orgÂ
Akron Blind Center –Â akronblindcenter.comÂ
E.A.R.S. for Eyes – free cassette tapes regarding Independent Living – earsforeyes.org
SCHOOL – EDUCATION
 Ohio State School for the Blind – ossb.oh.gov Â
Hadley School for the Blind – hadley.edu Â
Perkins School for the Blind – perkins.org Â
Cleveland Sight Center – clevelandsightcenter.org Â
Vision for Inclusion: Key Steps to Make College Accessible for Visually Impaired Students
VENDORS – CATALOGS – EQUIPMENT
Independent Living Aids –Â independentliving.comÂ
Maxi Aids – maxiaids.com Â
L S & S Products –Â lssproducts.comÂ
Freedom Scientific – freedomscientific.com Â
Pulse Data – Human Ware – humanware.com Â
Enhanced Vision – cctv’s –Â enhancedvision.comÂ
STARK COUNTY – GOV’T AGENCIES
Easter Seals Northeast Ohio – Senior Friends –Â easterseals.org Â
Community Services of Stark County –Â commquest.orgÂ
Habitat for Humanity –Â habitatstark.org Â
Hammer and Nails –Â hammerandnails.org
J.R. Coleman Community Renovation Corp. –Â dnb.comÂ
United Way of Greater Stark Co Info & Referral Service –Â uwstark.orgÂ
Catholic Charties of Stark County Emergency Assistance –Â ccdoy.orgÂ
Foltz Community Center of East Canton –Â foltzcetner.com Â
Dept of Veterans Affairs – Blind Rehabilitation Services –Â va.gov/blind rehabÂ