Unlock the Chains and Ratify Marrakesh Treaty
Blind people in South Africa have access to less than 0.5% of published works in an accessible format and the majority of these works have been produced by NPO’s like Blind SA. The President’s inactiveness in not signing the CAB into law is further impacting on the “book famine” experienced by blind people.
#BrailleIsNoCrime
Why, in a South Africa where the equality of its citizens is key and constitutional, is 42 year-old copyright laws still observed, making reproduction of reading and learning material into accessible formats a crime? The South African Constitution – section 9(2) states: “Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms”. #brailleisnocrime #equalrightsforall […]
The Blind SA case: Watershed moment for disability rights in South Africa
Article courtesy of: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-04-15-the-blind-sa-case-watershed-moment-for-disability-rights-in-south-africa/ Almost 25 years ago, in December 1996, President Nelson Mandela promulgated South Africa’s progressive and aspirational Constitution. The document recognises a wide range of rights, including the right not to be discriminated against based on a disability. Also in 1996, a piece of less well-known legislation called the Chafee Amendment […]
Reading is Easier with Bookshare
Available, but still not accessible – Blind SA laments the fact that due to outdated copyright laws blind and partially sighted South Africans still do not have access to all reading material that Bookshare has to offer. #brailleisnocrime.
New Blind SA Bookshare a breakthrough for people who read differently
Blind SA’s Bookshare venture launched in October last year and has quickly become a real breakthrough for people with reading disabilities. In South Africa, access to books of all forms has been a serious difficulty for anyone with visual impairment. But Bookshare gives members choice across a vast library of e-books in accessible formats. Now, […]
Donors get behind our special micro-business fund
… giving back lost incomes as pandemic bites During this past year, Covid-19 lockdowns have effectively wiped out the incomes of many blind and partially sighted entrepreneurs, or workers who relied on their jobs at sheltered workshops. Seeing the urgent need, Blind SA set up a special economic fund in April with a budget of […]
#EndTheBookFamine
BlindSA and SECTION27 take government to court to #EndTheBookFamine for persons who are blind or visually impaired. 7 April 2021, Johannesburg – BlindSA, represented by SECTION27, has approached the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division) to challenge apartheid copyright laws and fight for the human rights of persons who are blind or visually impaired. The […]
Basic Rights of blind and partially sighted people violated by Government
Blind and partially sighted people’s basic human rights in accessing reading materials in accessible formats – braille, daisy and audio etc. is still being violated despite Democracy since 1994. The outdated Apartheid Copyright Act of 1978 which does not have exceptions and limitations permitting the conversion of accessible formats for blind people does not conform […]
Joint SANCRC and SACSoWACH advocacy submission to Presidency
The SANCRC and SACSoWACH call on the President and Premiers to provide leadership of children’s rights as a national development priority in 2021 10 February 2021 Click here to view the full submission Click to view the letter to the president Click here to download the summary The South African National Child Rights Coalition (SANCRC) […]
The People’s Vaccine Campaign
Blind SA supports the People’s Vaccine Campaign and encourages blind and partially sighted people to choose to be vaccinated. Add your support by emailing: peoplesvaccinecampaign@gmail.com or on Facebook: C19 People’s Coalition