*** A partially sighted little girl and her mother look at a video display of a children’s book
The American Council of the Blind awarded Imagination Storybooks its Special Recognition Award in 2021 for dedicating its mission to fostering early literacy for children who are blind or have low vision. Richard adds “we also believe that audio description is best when produced by the people who use it. Our Executive Producer, Chris Snyder, is a blind audio description quality expert and award-winning narrator and audio engineer. In addition, we hire blind and low- vision narrators and blind quality- control experts to involve and give back to the community of audio description patrons.” The Denver, CO based nonprofit has adapted more than 120 picture books, including Winnie-the-Pooh, and other independently published books that grant permission to distribute accessible versions. “We select stories that normalize the fact that every child is different, and that’s OK,” Richard says. “Our mission is to reinforce children’s core values, such as kindness and empowerment, through the creative forces of children’s book authors, illustrators,
publishers, and narrators. We do this by seeking out books that have beautiful illustrations, fun stories, and valuable messages of inclusion.” Be part of the magic. Imagination Storybooks is seeking corporate sponsors for “The Storybooks Club”
*** The “Audiobook Wizard,” Richard Rieman, hosts a free weekly podcast on Spotify, Apple and dozens of podcast channels.
of Hundred Acre Wood including children who are blind, deaf, and learning challenged.” “Because most children’s book publishers don’t have the resources to make their picture books accessible,” Richard says, “Imagination Storybooks has stepped in to create book sponsorship opportunities to deal with what the World Health Organization calls ‘a famine of books for blind children.’” Imagination Storybooks also produces the weekly Illustrated Audiobooks podcast, winner of the 2022 Communicator Award for Excellence as “Best Storytelling Podcast” and the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences Gold Signal Award for “Most Innovative Audio Experience.”
*** A little girl watches an Imagination Storybooks video with American Sign Language interpretation
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Legacy Quarterly
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