Reading day for the blind and visually impaired: ‘Fantastic and fun’

Yesterday, actor Luk De Koninck read from Hugo Claus in the wedding hall of the Ostend town hall. Blind and partially sighted people were in the audience. It was a test set-up by ‘t Leeshuus to involve those people more in literature. Lieve Veys: “That was a fantastic read with the correct pronunciation. Truly a trained voice. That was also nice.”

Martine Vandermaes, ‘t Leeshuus vzw: “’t Leeshuus wants to connect people who love books, love tall stories. And we hope to organize even more activities in the future where both groups feel welcome. Not because they are sighted or visually impaired, but simply because they like books or stories, including reading pleasure.”

The intention is that a manual will be published in due course to share with other libraries and cultural organisations. Employees of ‘t Leeshuus are already collecting the reactions of the participants and are going to work with them.

The initiative is supported by Literature Flanders, Listening Point Library and the city of Ostend.