Many tips I have encountered for teaching history to a blind student or making history lessons accessible for low vision mention that including history podcasts and audio-based resources for visually impaired students can be helpful for introducing history concepts or presenting content for auditory learners. As a student with low vision that has also worked with several visually impaired students, I like using audio content to access information nonvisually or to provide context/clarification about what is happening in an image or video, since I often struggle to recognize details in the grayscale images or grainy videos that my history instructors would often share. I also find audio content helpful for managing eye strain or visual fatigue, since I don’t have to focus my eyes as much compared to just reading from a page.
Finding history podcasts for students or sources for audio content that can be integrated into history lessons can be overwhelming, but there are several options to listen to history that can be used with technology that the student is already familiar with, like computers, tablets, phones, or even smart speakers like the Amazon Alexa. Here is a list of (mostly) free history podcasts and audio-based resources for visually impaired students and lifelong learners, many of which I have used either as a student or when working with other students that have visual impairments (inclusive of blind, low vision, and CVI).
Audio description for history videos
Audio description is a narration technique used to describe important visual elements for audiences with visual impairments that would otherwise not be able to see them. Also known as descriptive audio or described video, audio description can be enabled as a secondary audio track when watching movies, TV shows, and even some YouTube videos; audio description may also be available at local museums, live performances, plays, national parks, and other locations.
With audio description, audiences can get additional context or clarification about visual information in real time, which can be helpful for watching content without looking at a screen or having to rely on residual/usable vision to fill in information gaps. Listening to audio description can also be helpful for people who experience motion sensitivities, vertigo, light sensitivities, or sensitivities to flickering/flashing effects, as visual elements like unstable cameras or weapons firing can trigger these types of conditions.
Sources for locating audio description for history videos include:
- Described and Captioned Media Program
- YouDescribe videos, which can be used to both search for audio described videos and to create videos with audio description for free
- Audio Description Project database
- BrainPop embedded audio descriptions
- AudioVault (audio only, pair with video content)
Audio description is different from captioning or transcripts, which convert audio content into text. That said, some learners may benefit from having a transcript that can supplement notetaking or following along with content.
Related links
- DCMP: Free Audio Described Videos For Classrooms
- How To Describe Primary Source Videos For Visually Impaired Audiences
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights
History podcasts for students
Podcasts are inherently created in audio formats or optimized for nonvisual access, making them an engaging way for visually impaired students to learn abotu history. There are history podcasts for audiences of all ages and interests, which can be accessed wherever users get their podcasts; this can include but is not limited to show websites, streaming services, virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts or other podcast-specific apps. Students with visual impairments may prefer to listen to podcasts over reading long articles or watching a video, especially if they are dealing with eye fatigue or prefer to listen to content (instead of or in addition to reading it visually/using braille). Some examples of history podcasts for students that can be used in the classroom include:
- American History Tellers
- Bedtime History
- Forever Ago
- Greeking Out (Greek mythology)
- Homeschool History
These podcasts are primarily intended for elementary school or middle school classrooms, and I have used them with a few visually impaired students over the years (including blind, low vision, and CVI students in history/social studies classes). This is by no means a complete list of history podcasts for students, but their teachers and families enjoyed these podcasts as well.
Educational history audiobooks and audio textbooks
Listening to a screen reader or text-to-speech can sometimes be tedious, especially when listening for long periods of time. Audiobooks and audio recordings of textbooks can be paired with print/braille versions of text or enjoyed on their own. Sources for finding educational history audiobooks and audio textbooks include:
- OpenStax audio textbooks from Audileo, which include professional narration and can be streamed from multiple sources (Spotify, YouTube, etc.)
- Narrated audiobooks on YouTube
- Full cast audiobook recordings, which incorporate multiple voices
- Audie Award titles, which recognize distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment
- Sources for eAudiobooks like OverDrive/Libby, Audible, and Sora (for students)
- Massive Open Online Courses that include audio-based content
Another option is to search for articles that include an audio option online, or option for listening to articles. Some outlets will have the author read their own articles out loud, while others use AI or synthesized voices to create audio recordings.
Related links
- OpenStax U.S. History Audiobook: The Complete Audio Textbook
- History: Free Online Courses | Open Culture
- Reading Magazines With The Libby App And Low Vision
Old time radio shows and radio archives
My first introduction to audio-based history resources was in middle school when my teacher played several old time radio shows, archived broadcasts, and other audio recordings from the Library of Congress. That said, instructors and/or families may want to screen these episodes before playing them for students.
Classic programs from the Golden Age of radio
There are several options for listening to old time radio shows from the Golden Age of radio, including:
- Browsing the Internet Archive’s Old Time Radio station and show archives
- Streaming episodes of shows on Amazon Music, Spotify, or another streaming service
- Enabling an Amazon Alexa skill to listen to a specific show, which can be activated and controlled using voice input (no pushing buttons needed)
- Searching for old time radio shows online or on YouTube
- Playing shows on Apple Podcasts or other Podcast platforms (e.g. Gunsmoke)
- Tuned to Yesterday podcast from NPR
Educational radio shows about history
Searching for specific educational radio shows that aired during the Golden Age of radio? Here are shows that my instructors have used in various classes:
- Mr. President (1947-1953)
- You Are There audio dramas that recreate historical events (CBS)
- Radio shows archive from Internet Archive
Primary source audio recordings for history classes
There are several audio collections and online collections with audio recordings that can be incorporated into classroom lessons, which can be helpful for projects or making connections between readings and topics discussed in class. Examples include:
- Collections with Audio Recordings | Audio Recordings | Library of Congress
- American Memory
- American Rhetoric (includes speeches performed by actors when primary sources are unavailable)
- StoryCorps – Stories from people of all backgrounds and beliefs
Oral history projects are another valuable resource for locating primary source audio for a variety of historical topics and perspectives.
Ambient sounds from the past
Another memorable history lesson that stands out to me as a student with low vision involved listening to an ambient soundtrack/playlist of city sounds during a class party where students got to try on costumes, handle replicas of artifacts from the time period, and also enjoy a few small food items that reflected the topic we were learning about. While there was some music involved, the majority of the playlist consisted of ambience sounds like vehicles, people talking, news shows, and the sound of nature.
When recreating these types of lessons for visually impaired students, potential sources for ambient sounds and vintage soundtracks for history class that I have used include:
- Field recordings, soundscapes, vintage sounds
- Tabletop Audio historical/vintage tracks
- Listen to city ambient sounds
- Vintage city sounds
- World field recordings
- Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
While incorporating sound and ambient audio tracks can be helpful for many learners with visual impairments, the students I have worked with that have CVI (cortical visual impairment/cerebral visual impairment) seemed to find it more meaningful to listen to audio or the sound of someone talking instead of looking at a picture or photograph. This isn’t to say that all students with CVI prefer audio formats (especially those with auditory processing issues), but several students have mentioned that they find it more useful to listen to audio recordings instead of just looking at photos alone.
Related links
Creating music playlists for history
Another option for listening to history or creating multimodal history lessons for students (especially those with visual impairments) is to create music playlists that include instrumental songs and/or songs with lyrics that capture a particular time period or location. Songs can be played on a personal device or with a voice-enabled assistant like Amazon Alexa, or enjoyed by the entire class.
Examples of sources for vintage music and history music playlists can include:
- Curated playlists on streaming services
- TuneIn radio stations, which can be played with Amazon Alexa or on a variety of other devices
- Radiooooo time travel feature, which can be filtered by country/decade and automatically plays songs
- The Jazz Groove (ad-free jazz music, also available as Amazon Alexa skill)
- Smithsonian Global Sound (may be available from local library or university)
- Online Radio Box
- The Global Jukebox
Audio-based history resources from museums and magazines
There are dozens of audio-based history resources and history podcasts for students of all ages available from museums, magazines, news outlets, and educational institutions. These can be found on podcast platforms or listed on an organization or institution’s website. Some examples of sources I have used with students include:
- National Geographic
- History Extra (BBC History)
- NPR history podcasts
- Smithsonian podcasts (American History, Folkways, etc.)
- Museum podcasts and lectures
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Headphones
- Visiting The Met With Visual Impairment
- How To Make Virtual Museums Accessible For Visual Impairments
More history resources for visually impaired students
- Taking an online history class? I took several online history classes in high school and college, and share several tips in Taking Online History Classes With Low Vision
- Interested in reading primary source content with low vision? Check out How I Access Historical Documents With Low Vision
- Wondering how to make history videos easier to access for students with low vision? Read How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See
Published November 11, 2018. Updated February 2026