European Parliament
Jean-Luc Bennahmias  (ALDE ),
in writing.
(FR)
‘Book famine’ … this expression describes the situation of numerous blind or dyslexic citizens who are prevented from reading. Ninety-five per cent of all published works are never converted into ‘accessible formats’, such as Braille, large print or audio. A petition submitted by the European Blind Union (EBU) and the European Dyslexia Association (EDA) resulted in an oral question in the plenary session of Wednesday, 15 February and a vote on a resolution on Thursday, 16 February. In view of this appalling situation, I naturally lent my support to the resolution. If publishers do not publish enough works in special formats for the blind or visually impaired, we must find a way to force book publishers to do so. We must move on from non-binding recommendations and commit to producing a legally binding text, to rectify this clear discrimination in access to reading.

