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Opening Books for The Blind

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Talking books for the blind

More people who are blind or have low vision are able to read the books and magazines they love thanks to a $5,000 grant from Air Rescue Services Ltd.

About the Blind Foundation

The Blind Foundation is New Zealand’s main provider of practical and emotional support for the tens of thousands of Kiwis who are blind or have low vision, enabling them to face their future with confidence. Every day an average of three New Zealanders turn to the Blind Foundation for support with sight loss, and the Foundation equips them with the skills needed to participate fully in society. This includes support in living independently, getting around, using technology, continuing to read and communicate, being socially active and remaining in or looking for work.

What the grant went towards

The $5,000 grant enabled books, magazines and other reading material to be transformed into formats that can be enjoyed by New Zealanders who have lost their sight, but not their love of reading.

What this mean to the organisation and its clients

Currently only about 10 percent of all printed material is accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Through this grant, the Blind Foundation is better able to address this inequality and provide its clients with access to a greater range of reading material.