Multiculturalism in YA,Fantasy, Sci FI,Paranormal and fun books ;p discussion
What I REALLY MEAN in blog interview question
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I'm wondering how do we make this format available to readers with low vision? Is it expensive? Is it simple?
http://peersofbeinan.wordpress.com/20..."this" format? Do you mean paperback or digital?
I was just interviewed this weekend about my sight loss. See link above to my blog post introducing hers.
I believe Libertad meant, most don't think to make books accessible in the ways you referred to on your interview.
Guinevere wrote: "I believe Libertad meant, most don't think to make books accessible in the ways you referred to on your interview."I absolutely agree. Accessibility is almost always an after thought for people. So of course Amazon does not see a need to even list large print editions; they don't feel people will buy them.
Of course, most people often say hurtful and hateful things about those who are different (lifestyle, religion, nationality, culture, religion, ability) without realizing how hurtful/hateful they are being.
We as a group can change that, making books more accessible and building a culture of acceptance, empathy, and caring for one another.
Audiobooks would be another good option. Also books in braille.
Cindy: have you ever TRIED to do a book in braille, or even learn it?I started a braille course from the Hadley School for the Blind. It's extremely difficult. Braille books are absurdly expensive. Braille printers are rare.
Read the interview posted on Alex's blog http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2...
I talk about all of that.
No, I haven't. Since I did mention it I did try to see if braille books are available at my local libraries. So far I've found very few fictional or instructional. It is something I'd like to learn though.
I've read the interview on Alex's blog. I also shared it on twitter because I think that is the best place to spread the word. Hopefully publishers will take it into consideration.
Cindy wrote: "I've read the interview on Alex's blog. I also shared it on twitter because I think that is the best place to spread the word. Hopefully publishers will take it into consideration."thank you, Cindy! I just named a character in "Returns" Cindy after seeing this!
Please, everyone, let's share that interview -- either by a link to my reference blog post showing the photo of me with my white cane -- or with the link direct to Alex's post. I spoke to Alexandra last night; either way is FINE with her.
If you follow me on twitter (@laurelworlds), please RETWEET my post of the link as broadly as possible.
Here's the tweet
An intimate look at #sight #loss http://ow.ly/ns9FS #NFB
feel free to add RT @laurelworlds if you want me to know you tweeted it!
No need to thank me. I just thought more people should become aware.I never would've thought I'd have a character named after me. Thank you for that.
Cindy wrote: "No need to thank me. I just thought more people should become aware.I never would've thought I'd have a character named after me. Thank you for that."
Anytime!
What people don't realize, I think, is the reason why I ask.
I ask as low-vision and hearing-impaired person. I want to know about a book's ACCESSIBILITY to sight loss.
Because, yes, the format matters for the differently abled.
So far, e-readers only allow adjustments to TEXT SIZE -- NOT COLOR (black/white, white/black, sepia are not color).
I have a zoomax magnifier from Blind/Visual services of PA -- but it doesn't work with digital media. For those who are not sight impaired, zoomax looks like a smart phone but its purpose is to magnify text and alter the color combination of said text. So for example, I can set text to white on blue or vice versa. There's a setting for blue/yellow, and of course black/white and white/black.
Zoomax only works on PRINT books and magazines.
So what I am actually asking in each interview is: "is your book compatible with accessibility devices for the differently abled?"
And guess what? the answer is USUALLY NO!
And the scary thing I've finding as I add interviews to this blog is that none of these authors realize what I am actually asking. They don't think about sight loss and accessibility.
My sight loss is the #1 reason I do not do read/reviews for people. I have to fight double and triple vision to "read" anything at all!
If I go too long trying to fight my low vision, I lose EVERYTHING. My brain completely loses control of ocular muscles and I am completely BLIND.
That can happen to me at ANY TIME and let me tell you, it's TERRIFYING when it happens, especially since right now I don't live in an accessible apartment (I've applied for a transfer to a single level apartment, but waiting on an available unit).
I've talked to folks with ocular-centric sight loss. They don't have this instability in their sight -- and are very glad for it!