RNIB provides braille transcript for first CBeebies Bedtime Story read in braille
Leading sight loss charity RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) is delighted to join forces with CBeebies Bedtime Stories and Paralympian Lora Fachie on World Sight Day (13 October) to dispel the myth that blind parents can’t read bedtime stories to their kids.
RNIB supporter, Paralympian and double world cycling champion Lora Fachie reads children’s book The Secret Code, written by Dana Meachen Rau, and illustrated by Bari Weissman, in braille. The book introduces braille to young readers through the characters Oscar and Lucy.
RNIB’s transcription service produced the braille transcript of the book for Lora to read, as well as transcribing the filming script into braille for Lora. This is the first CBeebies Bedtime Story read in braille and the first time the illustrations have been audio described.
RNIB has recently launched its new campaign ‘See the person, not the sight loss’, challenging outdated public attitudes and misperceptions of sight loss.
David Clarke, Chief Operating Officer at RNIB, said: “As a braille reader myself, its fantastic to take this opportunity to highlight braille books.
“Our in-depth research tells us that the main barrier faced by blind and partially sighted people in the UK is public misconceptions. This is just one myth that is being busted by Lora and we want to spread the message that blind and partially sighted parents can absolutely read bedtime stories to their kids.”
Lora said: “I am over the moon to read a CBeebies Bedtime Story for the first time in braille. I have always enjoyed reading and hope this will encourage everyone to want to read whether they use their eyes, their ears, their fingers or a secret code. Reading feeds the imagination and I will be reading to my little one from the minute they are born!”
Recent CBeebies Bedtime Stories readers have included the Princess of Wales, Harry Styles and Rose Ayling-Ellis, who signed her story in British Sign Language.
CBeebies Bedtime Story is on daily at 6.50pm and on BBC iPlayer.
For more information on RNIB’s transcription service please see here.
Notes to editors
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About RNIB
We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.
RNIB. See differently.
Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk