World Book Day

Thursday 7th March 2024 is #WorldBookDay and is always an opportunity for me and I suspect, millions of others to reflect on the joys of reading and why the day is so important.

I’m registered as blind which, in my case, means I have very limited useful sight, resulting in my accessing the written word differently to the way most of you reading this will do. For example, I read Braille now but, it wasn’t always the case. Just before we move on. For the uninitiated Braille is a tactile writing system used by the blind and vision impaired.

My Reading Journey started in me majorly rebelling against Braille. My VI specialist school, for which I’m truly grateful, had time to let me explore working in large print and I soon realised that Braille was a far better option for me. Braille has quite literally or should I say literarily taken me around the world, giving me wide access to books as diverse as The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis to Animal Farm by George Orwell. From Geography lessons at school to theory manuals on the finer points of tuning pianos and a career in that sector at the beginning of my working life anyone would be proud of.

Rescued by reading again…fast forwarding quite a bit. The ability to read enabled me to adapt when I needed to seek new employment and I’ve been making a living by reading; Producing accessible information (Braille, large print and audio) and most recently started a new part of my current role in which I advocate for its wider use in my work as Transcription, Sales & Advocacy Officer for All Formats. All Formats is a non-profit enterprise owned by Queen Alexandra College, (A national charity for young people with disabilities).

I used the word grateful earlier in this piece when referring to my educational opportunities and I use the word privileged now when I outline the enormous range of written content I have produced over almost 30 years. From Financial, insurance, utility sector information to Books for children and young people and everything in between.

So now you’ve discovered more about the joys and necessities of reading from my personal perspective, You could be forgiven for thinking that all things are equal when it comes to accessing the written word if you have a reading disability.

The truth is: “People with sight loss are twice as likely to be digitally excluded than the general population and 36% of blind and partially sighted people never use the internet or don’t have access to it. This is significantly higher than the UK average of 10%.”

Wondering what your next steps might be in ensuring your information is accessible to the 1 in 7 people in the UK who can’t access standard print.

At All Formats, the journey starts with a conversation. Talk to us today via the contact details listed below to find out how we can help you connect and communicate with a significant minority community of which we are proud to be apart.

Telephone: 0121 803 5471

Email: allformats@qac.ac.uk

Website: www.allformats.org.uk

*World Book Day was created by UNESCO on 23rd April 1995 as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.

**Sight Loss and Technology Briefing- How Blind And Partially Sighted People Can
Bridge The Digital Divide. Published September 2021.

***Literacy: State Of The Nation, 2012