This month, Vision Australia’s innovative Feelix library will celebrate 10 years of bringing childhood stories to life for children who are blind or have low vision.
One of the many recipients of this service is three year old Isabel Phillips who has limited vision due to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Isabel can only see basic colours, shapes and items with high-contrast.
According to Isabel’s Mum Edwina, Vision Australia’s Feelix Library has really helped her to develop her interest in reading. “We joined the Feelix library soon after being put in contact with Vision Australia and Izzy just loves it.”
“The first book she received was ‘Happy Birthday Lulu’ and, she spent hours playing with it. Her big sister also happens to be called Lulu so it was just wonderful to receive this kit in the mail,” said Edwina.
The library which is the first of its kind in Australia is a free service for clients between 0-7 years old. Families are sent out handmade kits containing braille and audio story books along with toys and tactile objects.
“Izzy really loves the audio books and listens to them over and over until she can recite them word for word. Her memory is unbelievable,” said Edwina.
Vision Australia’s Louise Curtin says that the purpose behind the Feelix Library is to help children who are blind or have low vision to have the same experience with books as their sighted peers.
“The kits help our youngest clients develop their listening and reading skills. It also enables them to become familiar with braille and learn how to track braille words across a page,” said Louise.
“The service has been incredibly successful, we started off with just 20 members and we now send kits to over 380 people nation-wide and we have over 900 titles,” she added.
Vision Australia will be celebrating Feelix’s 10th anniversary on Sunday 10 February from 10am to 1pm. A major highlight of the celebration was the recorded personal message from Feelix Library ambassador Sigrid Thornton.View Sigrid Thorton's video message
Download the Feelix 10th anniversary media release