RNIB Combats Hard to Read Schoolbooks

Thousands of children across the UK are struggling to read standard text schoolbooks 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 schoolbooks 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 print 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 and founder of Bookshare - a free, accessible reading and resource on-line hub.

“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."

In the UK, it’s estimated one in 10 children may have dyslexia and two in every 1,000 children live with vision impairment. For these pupils, the way books are presented can make or break their education.

RNIB Bookshare offers more than 1.2 million textbooks, revision guides and novels in accessible formats, including ePub, audio, electronic braille and digital PDFs.

“I use Bookshare every day in my classroom and beyond,” said Onyx Peynado, an English teacher from Wolverhampton.

“It gives me the flexibility to meet each student’s needs, whether that’s audio, a larger print using ePub / digital PDFs or electronic braille.

“Most importantly, it gives my pupils independence - they can read in their own way, in their own time.”

To find out more visit https://www.rnib.org.uk/