“I wish I had found Braille House years ago,” says Riley, a Year 11 student from Cairns. He discovered Braille House a year ago while searching for braille books online. “Braille books can cost around $1,000, so my reading was limited. It was very frustrating.”
Now, Riley proudly reads two books every weekend, enjoying historical and crime novels.
He also appreciates receiving the In Touch magazine, which lists available titles. “I was eager to read The Cane [by Maryrose Cuskelly] but had to wait for it. The staff in the library [at Braille House] were great — they sent it to me as soon as it was returned,” he shares.
Riley loves the personalised recommendations from the Braille House staff, such as Short, Back and Science by Dr. Karl Krusztnicki, which he found fascinating. “Did you know coconut water is as thick as blood? The librarian’s recommendations have been spot-on!”
Having started reading braille in preschool, Riley uses it for his schoolwork. He’s learning to use a compass in sports, relying on his phone for spoken directions, and enjoys playing board games like backgammon and Yahtzee. “I win a lot, which is fun!”
He’s looking forward to being able to borrow board games from Braille House in the coming months.