Thousands of children across the UK are struggling to read standard text school books according to a new poll from The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). RNIB is calling for every school to adopt Bookshare – a free on-line hub of over 1.2 million accessible texts in formats like audio, ePub, electronic braille and digital PDFs.
A new YouGov poll commissioned by RNIB reveals that almost one in five (18.5%) of UK parents say their child has struggled to read school books because of the way the text was printed.
Whether the text is too small, too crowded, or not available in audio or digital form, these challenges don’t just affect children with disabilities like dyslexia or a vision impairment. They can impact any child who processes information differently, has physical or sensory needs, or simply struggles with standard formats. Without accessible materials, children risk falling behind and missing their full potential.
“Reading should be the great enabler, not the thing that holds a child back,” said Anna Tylor, Chair of RNIB. “If you can’t see the words clearly or access them in a format that works for you, you simply can’t do the learning. That affects every aspect of a child’s development and leads to poor educational outcomes and in many cases long-term unemployment and higher welfare costs. We have brilliant feedback from students and teachers and I’ve met many people who say without Bookshare, they wouldn’t be working now and wouldn’t have gone on to live rich and fulfilling lives. Everyone sees the world differently and children need books in formats that match their view.”
Nathaniel Jessop, Teaching Assistant, at Tapton School in Sheffield said: “It opens up a whole new world for our students. They can download any book instantly and read it in a way that works for them. It means students can keep pace with their classmates. That independence is game-changing.”
Every child deserves an equal chance to learn. No one should be left behind.
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