Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Access to knowledge through the e-book and encouraging the use of the Braille alphabet.
National Culture Centre "Louis Braille"
Background
The National Culture Centre (chitalishte) Luis Braille has been established in 1920. The Centre initiated the creation of the Braille Book the first one in Bulgaria; the centre also founded the automated Braille print process and the talking book . This is the only library which produces its own books and distributes them throughout the country. In 1994 they presented the first electronic book numerous titles on a magnetic disk from all publishing houses are loaded up in the main computer in the Centre. After some developments it can be listened to digitally from a PC; the production is distributed on diskettes or e-mail.
The Centre s team is working on a project for creating a favourable environment for supporting the education of blind youth on a similar level to their peers in Europe.
The National Culture Centre (chitalishte) Luis Braille has been established in 1920. The Centre initiated the creation of the Braille Book the first one in Bulgaria; the centre also founded the automated Braille print process and the talking book . This is the only library which produces its own books and distributes them throughout the country. In 1994 they presented the first electronic book numerous titles on a magnetic disk from all publishing houses are loaded up in the main computer in the Centre. After some developments it can be listened to digitally from a PC; the production is distributed on diskettes or e-mail.
The Centre s team is working on a project for creating a favourable environment for supporting the education of blind youth on a similar level to their peers in Europe.
Practice
Blind young people are fighting for success in life; therefore they have to obtain abilities and skills beyond those acceptable for their age. This project is approved and supported by the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations and aims at introducing useful hints and steps towards equal access to the information flow. In many countries where different funds supply money and resources, blind people have additional equipment (tactile display) for their personal computers for transforming visual information into Braille signs. This is really hard to achieve so far; therefore the Centre has the resources to provide PC access and tactile display.
Supported by the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations the Centre has purchased a tactile display with 80 modules from the Dutch Company ALVA along with appropriate computers. Thus, all those readers who cannot see would be able to read among 15 000 books which are stored in the memory of the main computer. Such project would stay as an example for opening other similar centres, as well as utilising the equipment for personal use.
Another important task within the project agenda is the publishing of a Book for studying the Braille Alphabet, supporting those who are blind. The author is Dr. Vladimir Radulov. The Centre has organized courses for studying relief signs, used as an alphabet. These courses are now led in eight rehabilitation centres throughout the country; therefore most of the books would be distributed there. Yet the project is holding an innovation for Bulgaria. Until now books with large intervals have never been published. Four titles are to be published with such specifications. Those who became blind later in their life do not have well developed senses and the typical sensitivity of fingertips of those who were born blind, so the project aims at helping and supporting this specific group of blind people.
Blind young people are fighting for success in life; therefore they have to obtain abilities and skills beyond those acceptable for their age. This project is approved and supported by the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations and aims at introducing useful hints and steps towards equal access to the information flow. In many countries where different funds supply money and resources, blind people have additional equipment (tactile display) for their personal computers for transforming visual information into Braille signs. This is really hard to achieve so far; therefore the Centre has the resources to provide PC access and tactile display.
Supported by the Cooperating Netherlands Foundations the Centre has purchased a tactile display with 80 modules from the Dutch Company ALVA along with appropriate computers. Thus, all those readers who cannot see would be able to read among 15 000 books which are stored in the memory of the main computer. Such project would stay as an example for opening other similar centres, as well as utilising the equipment for personal use.
Another important task within the project agenda is the publishing of a Book for studying the Braille Alphabet, supporting those who are blind. The author is Dr. Vladimir Radulov. The Centre has organized courses for studying relief signs, used as an alphabet. These courses are now led in eight rehabilitation centres throughout the country; therefore most of the books would be distributed there. Yet the project is holding an innovation for Bulgaria. Until now books with large intervals have never been published. Four titles are to be published with such specifications. Those who became blind later in their life do not have well developed senses and the typical sensitivity of fingertips of those who were born blind, so the project aims at helping and supporting this specific group of blind people.
Results
If the experience of western countries is to followed, we have to print out around 70-80 Braille books per year, 250 talking books and to make the electronic book accessible for blind students and specialists and all those who wish to read a random book printed in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, there are separate attempts for responding to such demands of society. This makes the project for the National Centre for Blind People Louis Braille a very important and significant step towards the expected future. It creates an environment for education and work and thus supports the self-development of young blind people.
If the experience of western countries is to followed, we have to print out around 70-80 Braille books per year, 250 talking books and to make the electronic book accessible for blind students and specialists and all those who wish to read a random book printed in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, there are separate attempts for responding to such demands of society. This makes the project for the National Centre for Blind People Louis Braille a very important and significant step towards the expected future. It creates an environment for education and work and thus supports the self-development of young blind people.
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