Campaigns

Children's lobby of Parliament - Right to Read

Summary: Join our children's lobby of Parliament on 28 March 2007.

Children with placards asking 'Where's my Book'

Lobby update

On 28th March 2007 over 250 blind, partially sighted and dyslexic children and their parents and teachers descended on Westminster to lobby their MP. As well as talking to their MP many of the children were delighted to meet author and Children's Laureate Jacqueline Wilson, who came to lobby her own MP about getting more books in large print, audio and braille.

Speakers included Annette Brooke MP, Liberal Democrat Children's Spokesperson and Tim Loughton MP, Conservative Children's Spokesperson. Kay Wrench a qualified teacher of visually impaired people outlined the problems faced by teachers in making textbook information accessible to children. We also heard first hand from a parent, Paul Blecker, about the difficulties of getting books for his partially sighted daughter to read. John Palmer, Chair of the Right to Read Alliance concluded with a call to Government to tackle the problem centrally.

Picture of a key with text saying 'unlock a world of reading'

Background

In November 2006 we launched our campaign report Where’s My Book. The report found that blind and partially sighted children throughout the UK are losing out on their education as teachers struggle to provide textbooks they can read.

    “My son, 7, is partially sighted. His school try to do their utmost to help. They cannot get the books needed to help him in large print. I feel this holds him back in his learning ie spelling, writing and reading. He uses a machine to read with and this makes him feel different to all the other children. This is so frustrating for him and takes twice as long to read. I only hope the government can put this right for these children”

This is just one of over 200 comments left on our website in response to ‘Where’s My Book’. Read the comments left by parents, children and teachers supporting the campaign.

Help us make a difference

We believe that the Government rather than individual schools should take the responsibility for providing textbooks blind and partially sighted pupils can read. To motivate MPs to act on this they need to hear from their constituents.

Get involved

Please write to your MP explaining the difficulty your child has getting books in accessible formats. Please also ask them to sign EDM no 1097 calling for access to textbooks for blind and partially sighted children.

If you would like to get involved in this campaign please contact us on 020 7391 2184 or email campaign@rnib.org.uk

Right to Read homepage

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13

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