Call to end ‘book famine’ for blind
ACTIVISTS say it is time to end the “book famine” for blind and visually impaired persons, as the Constitutional Court presides over the case of persons who want to convert books into accessible formats.
The Constitutional Court will today preside over a case to decide whether or not to confirm a September 2021 High Court order, where the court ordered that the Copyright Act is unconstitutional for the barriers it inflicts on persons who want to convert books into accessible formats such as Braille.
The respondents in the case – the minister of trade, industry and competition, the minister of international relations and co-operation, the speaker of the National Assembly, the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and the president of the Republic of South Africa – are not opposing the case.
The 1978 Copyright Act does not contain an exception to copyright for persons with disabilities, according to Blind SA and Section27. This means that a person who is blind must secure permission from the copyright holder of any published work in order to convert the text into Braille or another accessible format.
Blind SA said that as a result of the 1978 Copyright Act, only 0.5% of all published works in South Africa are available in accessible formats
In anticipation of the case, which will be heard online, activists from Blind SA detailed the human experience of the copyright laws on blind or visually impaired persons in short videos.
Development officer of Blind SA, Thandile Butana, said she struggled while doing her honours degree because she had to ask people to read for her as the books she needed were not available in Braille or another accessible format.
“I remember at some time I had to go with my Perkins Brailler, my book, my Braille paper to that person’s house and it was raining. When you expose Braille to water, it means it may not be showing any more if it gets wet,” Butana said. She added that it was a difficult journey, but she was proud of herself for doing it to complete her education.
Ntshavheni Netshituni, president of Blind SA, said that opening up access to reading material would mean that the knowledge base of blind or visually impaired people would increase.
“We rely particularly on the strength of our mind and that we can only sharpen by reading,” Netshituni said.
Blind SA chief executive Jace Nair said that when he was at school, blind or visually impaired people like him did not have much access to Braille reading material.
“Greater access to published works in accessible format for young children is critical so that they too can perform and be able to improve their lot in life, go to tertiary institutions so that they can get better occupations and professions.”