Open AccessCreating a Book Culture In a Special Needs School With Specific Reference to Visually Impaired Learners
Author(s) -
Patricia Devenish
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iasl conference proceedings
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2562-8372
DOI - 10.29173/iasl7888
Subject(s) - active listening , reading (process) , school library , special needs , club , storytelling , task (project management) , visually impaired , process (computing) , special collections , visual impairment , psychology , pedagogy , library science , computer science , linguistics , engineering , communication , medicine , narrative , philosophy , systems engineering , human–computer interaction , psychiatry , anatomy , operating system
This paper outlines the role played by the library at a special needs school in Durban, South Africa, to create within the school a dynamic and vibrant book culture. The task is a challenging one, because with limited resources, the library staff are endeavoring to create opportunities and circumstances which will facilitate learners who have physical disabilities (including visual impairment), linguistic incompetence and cultural impoverishment, to access the richness of reading, writing, and storytelling and listening. The process began with recognizing the inadequacy of the library. Subsequently, enlarging the library, acquiring 2000 new books, including visually impaired learners and introducing a writing club facilitated a process which is ongoing.