Reading, for the visually challenged often depends on obtaining a book in accessible formats like audio, e-book, Braille or in a large font.
Now, at the ongoing World Book Fair here, a campaign has been initiated to drive home the point to publishers and distributors that they need to bring out books accessible to the visually challenged, termed by some as print-disabled.
"We want the publishers and distributors to come up with e-books which can be accessed by print-disabled people. The publishers must keep in mind the standards needed to be maintained while publishing a book to make it universally accessible," says Jatin Shah, a visually challenged person who is running the campaign at the Fair.
The campaign -- "Reading without Seeing- Making Publishing Accessible" -- is spearheaded by the Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC), an association developed to aid and assist visually challenged and differently-abled persons. It is located at St Xavier's College in Mumbai.
"We started this drive in Mumbai and we would target different sections of people to sensitise them about various disabilities. We held workshops for teachers and bankers earlier and this time our target is distributors and publishers. But it is for general people also," says Shah.
The campaign, he says, also seeks to dispel the common perception that the blind can read only through Braille.
"This is incorrect. Now technology has become vast and publishers can easily come out with universally accessible books for people who are print-disabled," says Shah.
Earlier, the campaign was run at the Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Th campaign comprises, a simulation workshop "Antarchakshu - the Eye Within" developed and conceptualised by XRCVC, aims to create a sneak preview for the sighted into the worlds of the visually challenged.
"It's a simulated environment where participants through experiencing a disability simulation will learn to reflect on personal attitudes towards people with vision impairment.
"This simulation is then followed by an interactive session with a presentation customised for the publishing community. The objective of the module is to equip its participants with understanding and basic facts about the lives of the visually challenged," says organisers.
Publishers also feel they have a market among visually challenged people, says Shah.
"Previously when we wanted e-copies of books, publishers used to cite violation of the Copyright Act. Then with the help of some other organisations we got the Copyrights Act amended. Now there is no such bar," he says.
