Banned Books Week 2025 is scheduled for October 5–11, 2025. The theme for the week is “Censorship Is So 1984: Read for Your Rights”. The event, supported by organizations like the American Library Association (ALA), PEN America, and others, aims to raise awareness about book bans and celebrate the freedom to read.  

            From my perspective as a blind person, availability of a book in alternate format (recorded or Braille) determines if I have the freedom to read it. I use three libraries on a daily basis to meet my reading needs: The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled with its state branch in Milwaukee, my public library  (including Libby for electronic books) and Bookshare (a project of Benetech, mostly funded by a Federal Education grant.)  Of course, I occasionally buy a Kindle book or an Audible book, but can’t afford to buy all the books I need to read and they’re not all available from Kindle or Audible anyway…

The recent defunding of Benetech’s Bookshare program, if it is not reversed, will restrict by 90% what is available to me to read.      

The 2026 Budget Request will eliminate critical funding for special education services that serve students with disabilities in every US district. Specifically, the budget request will defund the Education Technology, Media and Materials (Ed Tech) Program, which provides essential accessibility technology and services that enhance learning outcomes for millions of US students with special needs.

The Ed Tech Program ensures that students with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education as outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This includes timely access to learning materials through Bookshare, an accessible eBook library that provides free access to over 1.4 million textbooks and classroom learning materials in alternative formats like audio, large text and braille. Without these resources, students with disabilities like dyslexia, blindness and cerebral palsy would not be able to access learning materials in ways that work for them, pursue higher education and build future careers.

Adults like me,  who use Bookshare, can read for pleasure and for career advancement. Public libraries can’t afford to offer all their books in alternate format and the National Library Service’s offerings are about a tenth of what Bookshare offers.  In order for freedom to read to be a reality for blind and dyslexic folks,  we must vote to restore funding for the Ed Tech Program and fully fund Institute for Museum and Library Services that partially funds regional centers of the National Library Service.

            I’ve written my Congress people, but so far have only gotten a form letter from one saying he believes in education. His voting record would make me wonder.

Moral of the story:  Read what you can, while you can, and help others do likewise.