Reading Braille - Vision Australia celebrates national year of reading

A young girl and a lady sit on a couch, reading >>Bernie can’t see. She’s blind and has been from birth. Amelia, a seven year old girl is learning to read. For children who are blind from birth braille is still the fundamental basis by which people develop literacy skills. How can you read your tax return or type an email if you don’t know how to spell? How can you read to your own children or grandchildren? >>BERNIE: I think she may have been worried they might fall over >>They share a braille book, which also has text and pictures >>Literacy is an issue for all Australians. Around 46% of Australians struggle with the necessary literacy skills they need to cope with the complex demands of everyday life and work. However, there are special challenges faced by people in the print disability community. The most active period of brain growth and development is from birth to three. If Bernie had not had the support to learn braille as a child and the ability to access braille books, she would not be able to enjoy the same story at the same time with Amelia and share this reading experience together. >>THANH & THIEN: Are we there yet? >>A teacher talks to a young boy and girl, who swivel on large hand-shaped chairs, each holding a braille book >>EMILY: A tactile graphic >>THIEN: Do you they have giant legs and giant feet too? >>EMILY: What do you mean giant legs and giant feet? >>THIEN: They have a giant hand. [Laughter] >>EMILY: I don't think so, they're just the chairs. >>THAN: What would you want to have a bench in your, um.. >>EMILY: Do you think it's the whole bedroom or just a layout of the house... >>Thanh and Thien are eager braille readers. With their teacher Emily White, they’re exploring the tactile images that complement the book ‘Are We There Yet’ by Alison Lester, specially produced for The National Year of Reading 2012 by Vision Australia. Reading is a pleasure that should be enjoyed by people of all ages, regardless of disabilities. Their fingers run across the braille words and tactile pictures >>Do you like to read? The Reading Hour is a special event, celebrated around Australia on August the 25th from 6-7pm, but we encourage you to share a book with your child for 10 minutes a day, or perhaps to restore some of that work-life balance by taking a break with a book at lunchtime. Either way, we wish you happy reading! >>THAN & THIEN: National Year of Reading [laughter] [music] >>Vision Australia - blindness and low vision services