Blanket Hut Braille

Posted: Thursday Sep 29, 2016

This Blind Week Julie Woods is responding to a 7 day challenge put out by the Blind Foundation in conjunction with an organised event where 7 blind people are challenging themselves over 700 km for 7 days!

However, Ms Woods (50) is doing a different kind of challenge. After becoming partially sighted at the age of 18, Julie has not been able to read aloud for over 30 years. Until now……

I learned braille as a 35 year adult” says Julie, “but while I found writing braille relatively easy, reading it with my fingers was a whole different story.”

Blind for 19 years, Julie Woods is collaborating with Dunedin Public Library in Blind Week where she will be reading one children’s book a day for 7 days at all libraries around the region.

“I’ve been practising my reading for 30 minutes every day for the past year,” tells Julie. “We are going to make blanket huts and crawl into them and I’ll read the kids a story.”

Events Co-ordinator at Dunedin Public Libraries Kay Mercer said “I really admire Julie’s courage for coming out of the reading aloud closet,” she continued, “Julie always likes to have fun so I’m sure this event is not going to be any different.”

Here’s where you will find Julie reading aloud around Dunedin in Blind Week, 2 – 8 October!

Sunday 2 October at 11.30am: City Library, Storypit

Monday 3 October at 3pm: Blueskin Bay Library

Tuesday 4 October at 11am: Mosgiel Library

Wednesday 5 October 3 pm – Pop up Braille blanket hut! Surprise!

Thursday 6 October at 3.30pm: Port Chalmers Library

Friday 7 October at 3pm: Waikouaiti Library

Saturday 8 October at 2pm: City Library, Storypit

For more information contact kay.mercer@dcc.govt.nz