Books are like good friends that provide company, solace and
entertain the readers. Books can transport the readers to a different world
of wonder, amazement and imagination without taking a single step. For
children with visual impairments, access to books is limited and Omniactive’s
‘ILF-Improving Lives Foundation’ is aiming to bridge the gap through its
audiobook project-#OmniReads.
Visually impaired children can access books in Braille or
listen to audiobooks. Improving Lives Foundation is working on an ambitious
project to ensure that visually impaired children get access to books that
are not just for academics but for recreation as well.
Most school related books are available in accessible format, while there are
very few non-school books that the blind children in the age group of 5-18
years are able to enjoy.
Fairytales, stories about folk lore, short stories, novels, mystery stories,
adventure books, there are millions of exciting books that children across
the world enjoy reading.
ILF is aiming to make such entertaining books accessible for visually
impaired children by converting them into audiobooks.
Rushva Parihar heads the OmniActive Improving Lives
Foundation and believes that every child has the right to accessible books.
We are very hopeful of making a difference in the lives of visually
impaired children through the books that are normally available only to
sighted children. The audiobooks will surely bring joy to children who
listen to them and we are hoping to record books of various genres that
might appeal to them. Our volunteers are working hard on making this
project a success.
For this amazing project, Improving Lives Foundation has taken feedback from
various sources and is currently working on a list of around 100 popular
children’s books that have been selected for the first phase of recording.
Unlike books for grownups, children’s books tend to have a smaller word count
and take less time to be recorded. It still takes around 2-3 hours for a
single book to be recorded in the accessible format. Newz
Hook spoke to volunteers who are lending their voices for the
project.
Arpita Tamhankar is contributing her voice and time to the
audiobooks project and says, “I am thrilled to use my voice for a noble
cause. Visually impaired children will be able to access the many books that
are currently not in their reach and it is extremely fulfilling to be a part
of their happiness.
The books will initially be available in English language
and will later be recorded in regional languages as well to
reach bigger audience across the country.
Once the books are recorded, they will be shared with audiobook libraries,
book banks, even schools and colleges where children can listen to them. The
audiobooks will be shared free of cost by ILF.
