ReadBooks! Program

 

National Braille Press, along with Seedlings Braille Books for Children, is distributing attractive braille book bags to families with blind and visually impaired children, ages birth to seven, across the U.S. and Canada. The distribution process is a collaborative effort with educators and early intervention professionals. Note: Limited to one braille book bag per blind child.

link to your child's future (watch video)

Program Objectives

• To foster a love of books and reading at an early age;
• To support families of preschool blind children and help them spread the word that braille is an effective method of reading and writing;
• To introduce visually impaired children to a means of independent reading;
• To help parents learn "just enough" braille to assist their child as they grow;
• To give parents the knowledge and language they need to advocate for braille instruction when their blind child enters school;
• To promote an early expectation of personal achievement through literacy.

Braille Bags Contain:

1. An age-appropriate print/braille book for three age groups: birth-3, 4-5, and 6-7 in English or Spanish;
2. A braille primer for sighted parents entitled Just Enough to Know Better;
3. A tactile ball (red bags only);
4. Print/braille bookmark;
5. Print/braille alphabet card;
6. Because Books Matter, a guide for parents on why and how to read books with their young blind child;
7. A tactile maze or flag;
8. Wikki Stix, a product that allows a child to make tactile pictures (blue or green bags only);
9. A gift coupon redeemable for another print/braille book or braille/large print playing cards;
10. Tactile Alphabet Letters sheets, showing upper- and lowercase pr int letters in raised-line format, and braille letters;
11. A Braille Caravan block;
12. A description of the program on DVD.

Who Can Participate?

Anyone who knows, works with, or cares for a blind child, aged birth to seven, can participate in the program.

Parents or caregivers can find more information here.

Teachers or agency professionals can find more information here.

Funding

Substantial grants from BNY Mellon/Arthur F. Blanchard Trust, Delta Gamma Foundation, Moses Kimball Fund, Reader's Digest Partners for Sight Foundation, Harold C. Schott Foundation, Edith Glick Shoolman Children's Foundation, and Verizon Foundation enable us to produce and distribute book bags at no cost to the families or to the participating professionals. Funds support the distribution of bags to over 10,000 families in states across the country.

What Other Parents are Saying

"We received a braille book bag a little over a year ago when I found the program. I thought it was WONDERFUL. It was nice to feel so empowered to be able to get some introductory materials myself and begin my own education process as well as my daughter's. We love books and reading so it was a wonderful addition to our collection."

"My favorite part of the bag was all of the educational tools that were provided to me as a parent. I remember the first time my oldest child was able to read a book independently and as a parent the pride you feel for your child and the satisfaction of being able to teach them to read is an amazing feeling and I want to have that same moment with my younger child who is visually impaired. And after receiving the literacy bag materials I am more confident in my ability to teach her to read braille and look forward to watching her excel."