From braille to bytes: The urgent call for digital books for the blind

August 18, 2025
Healthcaretoday, Dialogue Includes All Malaysia (DIA), Yayasan Hasanah, digital accessibility, blind community, Braille, visually impaired, blind, inclusive education, digital books, disability rights,
Stevens Chan highlights how one 100-page textbook can take 10 costly Braille volumes to print—while digital books cut costs and give blind learners real-time access to knowledge equal to their sighted peers.
​In ASEAN, an estimated 800 million people live with some form of disability, with more than half of them residing in Asia. In Malaysia alone, official research records around 700,000 people with disabilities, though the actual figure may be closer to 2 million according to other public agencies. Factoring in caretakers, the number of lives impacted could easily double.

“Globally, that number is closer to 1.5 billion people,” shared Stevens Chan, Founder of Dialogue Includes All Malaysia (DIA), during his presentation at ‘Catalysing change in our communities’ at The Hasanah Forum on August 15. “Many disabled Malaysians depend on government welfare aid ranging from RM200 to RM450 per month. But the real challenge is how we can reduce dependency and create opportunities for them to thrive.”

From braille to bytes: Education in transition
For more than 200 years, braille has been a cornerstone of education for the blind. This tactile system opened the world of literacy to those without sight, transforming lives across generations. Yet, the modern reality poses a new challenge.

“It’s the digital age,” Stevens pointed out. “A 100-page textbook requires 10 bulky braille volumes, each costing nearly RM1,000 to print. Governments spend millions printing and supplying these books, in addition to the cost of specialized braille equipment for each student. Imagine the millions that could be saved—and the empowerment gained—if we shifted to digital formats instead.”

Digital books not only reduce costs but also offer blind learners something braille alone cannot: real-time access to information, updates, and knowledge-sharing on par with their sighted peers.

The digital famine: Lack of accessible information
Despite the opportunities, Malaysia faces a critical shortage of accessible digital resources.

According to the National Council for the Blind, Malaysia (NCBM) in a post; Accelerating disability-inclusive digitalization”, published online https://www.maketherightreal.net/covid-19/initiatives/malaysia, advocacy for disability-inclusive digitalization remains fragmented, with disability groups working in silos and minimal cross-collaboration. The country lacks expertise in web accessibility and accessible publishing, leading to what Stevens described as a “national famine of accessible, up-to-date information.”

This digital drought denies blind Malaysians equal access to ICT, educational content, news, and knowledge resources, limiting opportunities for independence and contribution to society.

Digital books: A pathway to inclusion
Global research underscores the impact of digital accessibility. A 2024 study published in the Journal of Engineering Science and Technology by Hirnanda Dimas Pradana et al. found that digital books significantly improve learning experiences for visually impaired individuals and their caregivers.
  • 85% of visually impaired assistants found digital books easy to use.
  • Over 90% highlighted screen readers, audio narration, and text magnification as crucial accessibility features.
  • Average satisfaction scored 4.7 out of 5, reflecting improved comprehension, attention, and knowledge retention.

Digital resources are not only educational tools but also bridges of empowerment, enabling the blind and visually impaired to participate more fully in society.

Beyond accessibility: Rethinking policy and inclusion
Stevens urged policymakers to enable blind students to study remotely, supported by their caretakers and loved ones. “More often than not, we are not disabled by our condition,” he reflected, “but by the limitations imposed by society that suppress our potential.”

Through his social enterprise, Dialogue Includes All (DIA), Stevens and his wife conduct Dialogue in the Dark—an experiential learning program where participants navigate complete darkness guided by blind facilitators. The reversal of roles fosters empathy and inclusivity, showing that blindness is not an inability but a different perspective.

Thanks to support from Yayasan Hasanah, Stevens has trained numerous blind and disabled individuals for the digital workforce. His team now contributes to digital marketing, sustainability, and customer support roles for regional companies, proving that disability inclusion strengthens both families and the economy.

From sympathy to pride
Stevens concluded with a call to reframe how society views disability:
“Empathy and sympathy are not what we need. Instead, we should say: We are proud of you. Proud of your courage. Proud of your toughness.”

The message is clear: Malaysia must invest in digital accessibility, especially online articles and knowledge platforms for the blind, not as charity, but as a matter of equity, inclusion, and national progress.​

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