QHA-Review_July_digital

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Richard said Braille House recognises that, and
understands through the power of literacy, braille
supports blind and low vision people to live
independently, attain their desired level of education,
increase their opportunities for employment and
interact with their communities.
“In providing the tools to be literate, we are
empowering blind and low vision learners, because
recent research also indicates braille literacy is uniquely
associated with well-being and self-esteem among
legally blind adults. Participants who learned braille
early in childhood reported the highest wellbeing levels.
“People who are blind or have low vision deserve
to have the same access as their peers to quality
literature. Can you just imagine being the child that
doesn’t get to read Dr Suess or Harry Potter because
it isn’t available in braille? Here, we are striving to
narrow the void and increase the availability of literature
in alternate formats, and it’s heartening to know that
our work matters and makes a difference,” he said.
Braille House found its core purpose all the way back
in 1897, when a group of seven ladies in Queensland
met after realising there were many children in the
colony of Brisbane who were blind and had no books
to read.
After Lady Lamington, the wife of Queensland’s
eighth governor, attended the second meeting and
agreed to be the group’s patron, the women made a
commitment to learn braille and produce twelve books
each, which were then displayed at an 1897 exhibition
before being gifted to the children.
Richard said the organisation’s library was established
two years later, and ever since the Braille House has
been providing reading material for blind and low vision
children and adults.
“In addition to teaching people how to read braille,
the organisation has grown to include a free lending
library which has thousands of braille and eBraille
volumes that are available to borrow. We also produce
‘Twin Vision’ books, where our team takes a children’s
picture book and adds braille to it so that the same
book can be read by both sighted and blind children
at the same time. That way, parents who are blind or
have low vision can also read to their sighted children.
“Beyond books, we are also experienced in the
provision of other large print and tactile resources such
as menus, health information, QR code indicators,
maps, models, emergency evacuation information
packs and local neighbourhood watch newsletters. In
programs with Brisbane and Ipswich City Councils, we
also transcribe information such as business cards,
documents, certificates and other important material
into braille,” he said.
Currently, The Braille House is actively working
to secure funding to produce a package of
materials designed exclusively for the Queensland
accommodation, hospitality and tourism industry.
These resources will help hotels and pubs learn crucial
information about accessibility and inclusion to support
blind or low vision patrons.
The association runs a myriad of colourful events to
raise funds for their cause. Richard said, with Lady
Lamington being their first patron, the association
proudly celebrates National Lamington Day on July 21
every year and invites Australians to get together, enjoy
a lamington and raise money for Braille House.
“On a bigger scale, last year we held our inaugural
Celebration of Friendship Golf Day and, with it being
such a great success on many levels, we are actively
planning our 2023 event which will be even bigger and
better.
“QHA members are warmly invited to join the event
and raise much needed funds for Braille House.
This year it will be held at Royal Pines on Friday 17
November, and the format will see a midday tee off
following an early lunch. There’s 18 holes of golf, drinks
and dinner, plus amazing entertainment. Also included
for under $500 per player is accommodation and a full
breakfast the following morning.
“Additionally, high on our list of priorities is to
commence a fundraising initiative to build a fit
for purpose facility to better accommodate our
organisation and allow us to continue to serve the
community through the great work we do,” he said.
To find out more about Braille House and its services,
feel free to get in touch at braillehouse.org.au.
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