In an effort to ensure that blind, visually impaired and print disabled students have equal access to school texts and reading materials, on April 22, the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), the Authorized Entity under the Marrakesh Treaty, presented nine schools with braille and large print school texts, and EVO e10 Daisy Digital devices.

Receiving the textbooks, converted by NALIS’ trained staff, were students of the School for the Blind (Arouca), Diego Martin Central Secondary, Princes Town West Secondary, Fyzabad Secondary, Rio Claro East Secondary, Coryal Secondary, Cunupia Secondary, Asja Boys College and St Augustine Girl’s High School.

The presentation took place at the National Library where each school received two large print titles and one embossed braille book. Among the titles distributed were Anansi, Miguel Street, Starting Shakespeare, Sunsong1, The Sun’s Eye, The Wooing of Beppo Tate, Health and Family Life, Books One and Three. 

Additionally, EVO e10 Digital devices were presented to students for the upload of school texts in digital formats. Currently, NALIS has converted 41 titles in the areas of literature, history, agricultural science, biology, science, drama and theatre arts, social science and primary level language and reading. The students, parents and teachers will undergo training from NALIS’ staff to ensure that they are able to upload the relevant textbook files, properly use, and care for their devices. The devices will be on loan to students under a long-term arrangement.

The Evo E10 Daisy Digital Player and Recorder is an assistive technology device that is the size of a cell phone. The lightweight e-book reader device has tactile buttons in contrasting colours and is self-voicing which provide audio prompts. It has many features that make it easy to use for persons with blindness, low vision and old age, helping them regain their active daily activities and life independence.  

This distribution of accessible format materials is a stipulation by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) with respect to providing physical copies of accessible books to educational institutions.

At the presentation of texts, Paula Greene, Executive Director of NALIS told students, teachers and parents that it was extremely important to NALIS that students of differing abilities have equal access to texts and reading materials. She said that no child should be left behind.

Helen Johnson, NALIS’ Director Information Networks Division said that the conversion of texts is as a result of Government’s commitment to the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works to persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled. She said, “It was born out of a need to address the global book famine for these persons.” She added that, “According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), 280 million people worldwide are blind or visually impaired and even more significantly, 90 percent of them live on low incomes in developing and least developed countries and only one to seven percent of books produced globally are in a format they can read.”

The Marrakesh Treaty aims to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired and otherwise print disabled. It was developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and came into force in 2016. As part of its thrust to cater for all sectors of the society, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago signed on to the Treaty in 2018. In keeping with the terms of the Treaty, the Trinidad and Tobago Copyright Act was amended in 2020 and NALIS was named as the sole Authorized Entity in Trinidad and Tobago. This means by law, NALIS can convert materials for persons who are blind, visually impaired and print disabled.

At right, Paula Greene, Executive Director of NALIS presents converted textbooks and digital devices to Roma Maharaj, principal of the School for the Blind, Arocua.
These will give visually impaired students equal access to textbooks

On display, converted textbooks in large print and digital devices for visually impaired and print disabled students.