The IJC Reprinted Media Education Textbooks in Braille
The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) has reprinted the updated Media Education textbooks in Braille for visually impaired individuals. This initiative aims to improve access to media education resources for people with visual impairments and promote social inclusion.
The updated Media Education textbooks for all three educational levels, in both Romanian and Russian, were adapted and reprinted in Braille by the National Information and Rehabilitation Center of the Moldovan Association of the Blind. Depending on the educational level, the textbooks cover topics such as the history of mass media, media functions, ethical online behavior, critical information consumption, disinformation, online safety, and responsible media use.
„This initiative reflects our commitment to promoting equal opportunities in media education. Through this project, we aim to provide everyone, regardless of their visual impairments, with access to information and knowledge necessary to navigate the online environment responsibly. At the same time, we contribute to the social integration of visually impaired students,” said Nadine Gogu, Executive Director of the IJC.
Ștefan Oprea, Vice President of the Moldovan Association of the Blind, welcomed the IJC’s initiative, stating that it represents a step forward in promoting social inclusion for visually impaired individuals.
“The world we live in is developing at a dizzying speed, and with that, the spread of information through various channels has also increased. As a result, it’s very easy to consume news that can be manipulative, false, or at least taken out of context. We don’t always manage to identify how subtly false information has been slipped in or omissions have been deliberately made. When we consider that people with visual impairments have even more limited access to information, accessible media education materials become absolutely essential. Now the Media Education textbooks are available to visually impaired individuals, helping them better understand how to stay safe online and avoid manipulation,” said Ștefan Oprea.
The Technological High School for Children with Visual Impairments in Chișinău was the first institution to receive the Braille textbooks. The school’s director, Aurica Brînză, mentioned that visually impaired students need knowledge and tools to navigate the virtual space safely.
“Thank you for this initiative and for the book donation made to our school. It is a much-needed contribution that will help students improve their media education knowledge,” said Aurica Brînză.
The Media Education textbooks reprinted in Braille will be distributed to local branches of the Association of the Blind to facilitate access to useful and accessible media education resources for visually impaired individuals.
This activity is part of the project supported by Sweden “Media Literacy Advancement and Support to Moldovan Media” and implemented by Internews in Moldova, which aims to contribute towards the growth of a diverse, independent and financially viable media landscape in Moldova, and to empower Moldovan youth to navigate their complex information environment.
