Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The National Council for the Blind of Ireland’s (NCBI) National Table Quiz will provide Braille, audio and large print books for people who are blind or vision impaired. This is the only national quiz in the country. The quiz is now in its third year, with heats taking place throughout October and November, before the final at Dublin’s Mansion House in December hosted by quiz master Sean O’ Fearghail, Ceann Comhairle. The winning team will walk away with the top prize of €3000.The NCBI National Table Quiz is kindly sponsored by Fujitsu Ireland.
Quiz master Sean O’ Fearghail, Ceann Comhairle said: “The importance of reading cannot be overstated. NCBI is actively lobbying for change so that more printed material is accessible to people who are blind or vision impaired. The NCBI National Table Quiz is an excellent opportunity to focus the mind on the issues that the blind community encounter in relation to reading.”
The national Braille, audio and large print library receives no statutory funding, so its production and distribution capacity is limited. There are 51,718 people who are blind or vision impaired in Ireland, but NCBI’s library is the only producer of unabridged audio books in the country. The library currently records 30 titles each year that would not otherwise be available in full to blind readers. This service is hugely important to people who are blind or vision impaired as 4% of what appears in print is not accessible to a person who is blind or vision impaired. Funds raised through the National Table Quiz will enable the charity to increase this capacity.
According to NCBI’s CEO Chris White: “Our aim in NCBI is to provide accessible literature to people who are blind or vision impaired. Public libraries currently have a limited selection of books in accessible formats so people with sight loss rely on one primary source for accessible reading material, which is NCBI’s library. Literacy is hugely important, with just 4% of printed material available in accessible formats, our library is vital.”
Speaking about the National Table quiz, CEO of Fujitsu Tony O’Malley said: “We are delighted to be supporting NCBI’s National table quiz as part of our relationship with the organisation. The quiz is a fun opportunity for people to help raise funds for a hugely important cause, and enable people with sight loss to realise their potential through practical measures such as accessible literature.”
For more details on NCBI’s National Table Quiz and to register a team visit www.ncbi.ie, follow NCBI on social media for updates or call into your local NCBI Charity Shop.
ENDS
For further information contact Roisin Maxwell, Communications Executive, on 012710127/0857628536 or email roisin.maxwell@ncbi.ie.
Photo caption:
NCBI CEO Chris White and Fujitsu CEO Tony O’Malley, Pic: Maxwell Photography
Editor’s Notes:
- NCBI is the national charity working for the rising number of people affected by sight loss in Ireland. We provide practical and emotional support to help people with sight loss face their futures with confidence.
- There are currently 51,718 people with sight loss in Ireland. (Census 2011)
- Each year NCBI works with around 8,000 individual service users.
- NCBI must raise €4 out of every €10 it spends on services.
- The figure of 4% of what appears in print is not accessible to a person who is blind or vision impaired is from the RNIB’s Right to Read campaign.