Braille books launched

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has partnered with publisher DK to produce a series of braille books that is launched today (10 March).

The DK Braille collection features a range of custom-designed braille books developed for blind and partially sighted children.

There are almost two million people living with sight loss in the UK and of this figure more than 25000 are blind and partially sighted children up to the age of 16.

The DK Braille series is the first audience-led, accessible and safety-tested braille books to be produced by a mainstream publisher that fully incorporate the needs of partially sighted or blind readers.

The series includes two touch and feel board books for toddlers and preschool children, progressing to titles for young readers on animals, transport and travel. For older braille readers, there are a number of books about ‘strange but true facts about the world.’

Printed text appears above braille on the page to allow sighted parents, family or friends to read along with visually impaired children.

Reading services manager at the RNIB, Claire Maxwell, said: “Books open up a world of adventure and possibility for children and at RNIB we feel strongly that no child should be denied this opportunity, simply because they cannot see. We’ve really enjoyed working with the DK team on this series of beautiful braille books and are delighted that a mainstream publisher has thought about the needs of blind and partially sighted children so carefully.”