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The reviews are in! Surfing in the Dark makes waves
Library
The first of a series of books created by Vision Australia has hit the shelves, and the reviews are great.
Inclusive bookshelves championed at Vision Australia’s children’s...
Library
Blind pro-surfer Matt Formston stepped of his surfboard and onto a Melbourne stage to launch the first book in a series championing underrepresented role models with blindness and low vision. Surfing in the Dark is a children’s book integrated with braille that has been created and published by Vision Australia and Berbay Publishing, and was officially launched at the Melbourne Museum on Thursday. The book is designed to inspire a more inclusive Australia, and introduce children to underrepresented role models with vision loss. As the protagonist of the first Big Visions book, Matt talked about tackling 55-foot big waves and overcoming obstacles. For the most part, those obstacles were placed in front of him by people assuming he had no prospects as someone with blindness. “The world has told me and my family you can’t, you shouldn’t, because you have a disability it’s not an option for you,” he told the crowd. “But my life experience has been that I can.” Matt was interviewed by 11-year-old Ethan Bradley, who has vision loss himself and has aspirations of a long career as a lawyer. Ethan stole the show by asking some tough questions to the fearless surfer, who said it was the best interview he had all year. Vision Australia CEO Ron Hooton spoke about the importance of creating books that everyone can read. “Having braille in the books directly gives blind and low vision children a chance to read along with their sighted peers,” he said. Mr Hooton also highlighted the need for Australians to become allies to children with vision loss and open doors when they reach adulthood, not close them as they try and enter the workforce. “We’d love for all of Australia to join Vision Australia in empowering children with blindness or low vision to dream bigger for their future because Australia’s willingness to give these children a go, to open doors when they come knocking is essential in helping them make those dreams a reality,” he said. Ethan wowed the audience by reading an excerpt of Surfing in the Dark with the help of his electronic magnifier, showing another way those with vision loss keep up with their sighted peers. The book is currently available at all good book stores including Readings, Target, Big W, Amazon and available for online purchase at the Vision Australia store. We want parents, grandparents and teachers to think about how their bookshelves help to make a kinder more accepting, more resilient Australia. We need to know that books have power, Read It To Believe It!
Award winning books in the Vision Australia Library
Library
A list of winners and shortlisted books from the recent Australian Indie Book Awards.
Listen: Surfing in the Dark on the ABC
Library
Vision Australia was thrilled this week to launch Surfing in the Dark, the first book in the Big Visions series. Matt Formston, the book's protagonist, and Vision Australia Library's Vildana Praljak spoke to the ABC's Nas Campanella about the books.
World Champion blind surfer Matt Formston shares his story to ins...
News
Big Visions, an initiative by Vision Australia, is a set of three children’s books that explore the individual stories of inspirational, successful Australians living with blindness or low vision. The books aim to help change expectations of what children and young people who are blind or have low vision can achieve to build strong foundations for life.
10 Books to Love About Library Lovers' Day
Library
Whether it be romantic love, unrequited love or the love we have for family and friends, the Vision Australia Library wants you to celebrate the day with these 10 books about love.
Holiday reads from the Vision Australia Library!
Library
It's almost time to put your feet up, get comfy, and hopefully get some reading done!
November's top 10 reads from the Vision Australia Library
Library
The Vision Australia Library is back again with its members’ most downloaded books in November! Genres include fantasy, historical fiction, mystery and thriller, autobiography, and more.
Books that transform reading for children
Feelix Library
Ideally suited for children in grades 2 – 6 (ages 5 – 12) these renowned books use a systemic approach to learning phonics which helps young readers to ‘decode’ words. When children learn to decode text, they are learning how letters (and groups of letters) relate to a particular sound.