TWIN VISION® BOOKS AND THE KENNETH JERNIGAN LIBRARY FOR BLIND CHILDRENThe specialized children's services of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults grew from a unique idea. In 1958 Jean Dyon Norris originated the concept of Twin Vision® Books—books with adjacent pages of print and Braille. She began the project by making such a book for a blind friend, whose children couldn't understand why their mother could not read to them. Jean and a friend of hers began transcribing, proofreading, and assembling these books at home for just a few friends. In 1961 the idea of producing these books was brought to the attention of the American Brotherhood for the Blind (which is now the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults). The ABB decided to lend its support to this worthwhile project, and in 1962, Braille presses and equipment were acquired to begin the production. In 1965 the office moved to Tarzana, California, and the first lending library was initiated with a total of forty-five books. These books became known as Twin Vision® books (now a trademarked name), and the first facility became known officially as the Twin Vision® Publishing Division of the American Brotherhood for the Blind. In 1991 the name of the lending library was changed to the Kenneth Jernigan Library for Blind Children in honor of Dr. Kenneth Jernigan—who, as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Brotherhood for the Blind in 1961, was instrumental in getting the organization to adopt the Twin Vision® books project. His continued support has developed the library into a national service, with the largest source of reading material of its kind for blind children and blind parents. He knew first-hand what it meant not to have something to read because he was blind himself. As a result of his understanding and actions many years ago, every blind child today can have an ample supply of children's books, and blind parents have a wealth of Twin Vision® books to read to and with their sighted children. The Kenneth Jernigan Library for Blind Children has more than 40,000 Braille and Twin Vision® volumes available. These books are loaned free of charge to blind children, blind parents who have sighted children, schools, regional libraries for the blind, institutions serving the blind, and schools and libraries in many foreign countries. One of our services is the production of what we call our Great Documents Series. This series includes such works as the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence in Braille. Our Twin Vision® books include such titles as The Presidents of the United States and Great Americans in the Hall of Fame. This series is designed to help young readers learn about American history. The Great Documents series is a specialized part of our library and is of interest to blind students in junior high and beyond. The “Shapes of Things” series is another specialized part of our Twin Vision® program. Blind children, like their sighted friends, want to learn about everything from dinosaurs to musical instruments. The raised illustrations which were developed for The "Shapes of Things" series help them do that, and much more. Blind children are excited about showing their pictures to sighted friends. Sighted children begin to understand that picture books are fun for blind kids, too. The services and materials provided by the Kenneth Jernigan Library have significantly changed the lives of blind and deaf-blind persons throughout the world. In the field of education, blind students have been given an incentive to read and explore a new dimension through the medium of raised illustrations, which allow blind children to feel the same pictures their sighted friends enjoy. Blind parents and sighted children (or vice versa) can read together, and blind teachers are able to read with their sighted students. The world-wide distribution of this material is unequaled in kind by any other organization serving the blind, and all services and material are free on request. The Kenneth Jernigan Library for Blind Children utilizes many dedicated, hard-working volunteers. The services that the library provides would not be possible without all of our talented volunteers. In addition to the volunteers who come into the Tarzana office, there are also several volunteer Braille transcribing groups in California and Nevada which work to produce the many books for children. As a result of one of our very first mailings of Twin Vision® books that went to schools and libraries, we received the following comments in a letter: “The two Twin Vision® books came today. Our whole staff were thrilled by them. This afternoon one of our small readers, a boy of nine, came in with his mother and younger sighted brother. I showed the books to Alan, the blind youngster. I wish you could have had the fun we did watching him read them to the small brother. Well, the books went home with them even if we didn't have them `processed' for circulation. I don't know who was the most pleased, but we all beamed. I can assure you. What a wonderful idea. Bless you one and all.” |