, The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) today launched
Bookshare Ireland which is the country's largest digital accessible library.
Bookshare Ireland is specifically designed to support students with a visual
impairment and print disabilities attending higher or further education by
providing instantaneous access to over 500,000 academic books and other
materials, in the student's preferred format (DAISY Audio, DAISY with
images, digital braille, PDF and Word). For the first time ever, this
guarantees equity of access to the curriculum with their sighted peers.
Chris White, NCBI CEO said "we are acutely aware that studying in third
level with sight loss is a huge challenge, obtaining books and information
in accessible formats should not be an additional barrier to achievement for
students with a visual impairment in higher and further education. Through
using Bookshare, these students will no longer be at a disadvantage but
instead be able to embrace and thrive in 3rd level education like their
peers as the books and resources they need will be available to them. It
will also hopefully lead to an increase in the number of students with a
visual impairment attending 3rd level as it is chronically low at 1.8% of
the student population.
Ivan O'Brien, Managing Director of O'Brien Press said "O'Brien Press is
thrilled to be a part of NCBI Bookshare as it is cutting edge and inclusive.
Ensuring that people with print disabilities can have rapid access to the
broadest possible range of reading material, whether for work, study or
pleasure, is really important. Now students can read and learn from over 300
O'Brien Press publications on their computers, tablet, smartphones,
assistive technology devices, and more."
Rosie Bissett, CEO, Dyslexia Association of Ireland added "given one in ten
people have some form of dyslexia, we are delighted to be part of the
Bookshare initiative. It means students with dyslexia will be on par with
all other students, thereby empowering them to reach their potential."
Aoife Watson, recent NUIM graduate with sight loss added "I absolutely loved
my time in university but it was extra challenging for me as the books I
needed were simply not in an accessible format. It was so frustrating seeing
how easy it was for other students to access the books that I couldn't. I
know if I had access to the books I needed when I needed them, I would have
achieved a higher overall mark in my degree. Having Bookshare will now
revolutionise a student with visual impairment's experience of 3rd level, as
being able to access a book at the same time as your classmates is essential
to creating an inclusive experience. I am envious of them, yet feel I will
return to do a Masters sooner than planned now because of Bookshare."
Already Bookshare Ireland is pleased to welcome O'Brien Press, Gill and Oak
Tree Press to the new platform and will continue to work with other Irish
publishers to increase homegrown content available to readers. To register
students for this new service, please Sign Up at:
www.bookshare.ie
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