On 02 December 2022, an anthology written by blind and visually impaired writers in the Northern Cape will be launched in different accessible formats under the banner ‘removing barriers and encouraging effective participation in society’.
This anthology titled, Now You See Me, is a joint venture between the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the South African Library for the Blind will be launched in braille, audio and print format, in commemoration of National Disability Rights Awareness Month, which falls on 03 November – 03 December annually.
The anthology features poems and short stories written by the blind and visually impaired members.
The abovementioned partners undertook to develop the writing skills of the blind and visually impaired community in the province by hosting a writing workshop. Eager storytellers who had much to tell were born from this workshop. This book marks the birth of a community of blind writers who are stopping at nothing to make their voices be heard.
The late Advocate Steve Kekana, a former long-standing member of the South African Library for the blind once said “I have never believed that being blind is a hindrance to success. Instead, it affords a person very powerful sight which can never be blinded by anything... It's not a disability..."
Stats SA released an in-depth report on persons with disabilities a few years ago where it was documented that 7.5% of people in South Africa are living with a disability. Persons with disabilities often experience exclusion, and this book seeks to integrate blind and visually impaired people into society and to inculcate a culture of reading amongst those who did not previously have access to reading material.
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Media Enquiries and Interviews
Musa Sekese – National Library of South Africa
Morapedi Sekhoane – Northern Cape Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
Mercy Thinyane – South African Library for the Blind
ABOUT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SOUTH AFRICA:
The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) is the custodian and provider of the nation’s key knowledge resources. The NLSA is mandated by the National Library of South Africa Act to collect and preserve published documents and to make them accessible thereby ensuring that knowledge is preserved for posterity and that information is available to all.
ABOUT SOUTH AFRICAN LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND:
South African Library for the Blind (SALB) is a National Blind Library which provides a FREE service to blind and visually impaired members throughout SA. They send out Braille and audio books (and the required audio book reading equipment) FREE from the library in Grahamstown to members via post. Members can also access books online via their catalogues through the website www.salb.org.za, or they can visit Mini- Libraries, which are designated area SALB Mini-Libraries set up in National Libraries throughout SA.