World Book Day and Accessible Reading
World Book Day is less than a week away, and it’s a perfect moment to reflect on how stories bring people together — especially when reading takes many different forms.
To mark the day (5th of March), we’re hosting a live online discussion for RealSAM BookClub, open to anyone who loves books, storytelling, and accessible reading. Whether you read with your eyes, your ears, or a combination of both, this session is about shared experience rather than literary expertise.
A Shared Conversation About Reading with Sight Loss
Accessible reading for blind and partially sighted people has always been about more than formats. It’s about access to imagination, culture, and connection.
This live discussion is designed as a relaxed, welcoming space to talk about how we read and listen, how stories shape us, and how literature can reflect experiences of disability and sight loss. There’s no pressure to speak, and you’re very welcome to join simply to listen along.
This Month’s Book: Blindness and Storytelling
For World Book Day, our discussion will be loosely centred on All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr.
The novel follows Marie-Laure, a blind protagonist navigating the world during the Second World War. During the session, we’ll explore questions such as how blindness is represented in fiction, how it shapes the structure and perspective of a story, and what it asks readers and listeners to pay attention to.
Importantly, you do not need to have read the book to take part. The discussion prompt is designed to open up broader reflections on literature, perception, and accessible reading, so everyone can join in.
Why World Book Day Matters for Blind and Partially Sighted Readers
World Book Day often focuses on encouraging reading — but it’s just as important to talk about how people read, and whether stories are truly accessible to everyone.
By centring blind and partially sighted experiences in conversations about books, we help ensure that accessible reading isn’t treated as an afterthought, but as a core part of literary culture.
How to Join the Live World Book Day Discussion
The live discussion takes place on Wednesday, the 5th of March, and registration is open now.
To join us, please register using the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/IQzT2MqVTO2dmcpwuOvy-Q
We’d love to have you with us — whether you come to share your thoughts or simply to listen and be part of the conversation
