The Right to Read
“All my friends go down the bookshop or library and get any book they want but I have to wait months for the same book, pay extra for it and often it never comes out in large print or on tape so all I can do is listen to them talk about it. I feel really left out…”
Why do two million people have little to celebrate?
Up to three million people in the UK who are blind, partially sighted or have a reading disability such as dyslexia, have no reason to celebrate. They are denied the right to read because over 95 per cent of all books published never become available in large print, audio or braille. RNIB, as part of the Right to Read Alliance, believes this discrimination must end. People with sight problems or reading disabilities are like everyone else - they want to read the same book, at the same time at the same price.
31,923 signatures for Right to Read Charter!
Eleven people with sight problems, dyslexia and their guides got to present the 31,923 signatures on the Right to Read Charter to Number 10 Downing Street.
The heavy boxes full of Charters were handed in on 28 February, the same week as World Book Day – the annual celebration of books and reading. One of the eleven people at the door of Number 10 was David Mann, campaigns officer at RNIB. David wanted to know; “How am I meant to celebrate the joys of reading on World Book Day when over 95 per cent of books aren’t available to me and the three million people with sight problems and other reading disabilities.”
Chamandeep, aged 13 and from Linden Lodge School, was also part of the presentation party. He told us, “I would love to go to my local library and choose a book like sighted people do. I would also love to be able get hold of a book that I have heard about on the radio.”
Students also face real problems getting the books they need. Lara Green is doing her A-levels. She told us, "I have to research all my projects twice - first I have to research the availability of the books and get them, then do the work. Everyone else expects to go to the college library and just get the book."
The Right to Read Charter called for Government to put money into providing books in audio, large print and braille as well as abolishing VAT on audio books, bringing them into line with print books. Publishers, booksellers and librarians were also called upon to play their part to deliver the Right to Read.
To find out more about the campaign you can read our campaign reports “Overdue – the Right to Read”, and our recent update (November 2004) ‘Written Off’.
Further information
