Bangkok--4 Apr--PC & Associates Consulting
The Printer Division of Fuji Xerox (Thailand) Co., Ltd has joined forces with the Thailand Association of the Blind (TAB) to publish a special edition of the S.E.A. Write award-winning novel “The Happiness of Kati” as part of the company’s “Big Font” initiative and in a new project to expand learning opportunities for the visually impaired.
This project has the support of the novel's author Ngarmpun Vejjajiva and publisher Amarin Printing and Publishing Plc while the Thailand Association of the Blind will be responsible for distributing 3,000 copies of the book to over 100 schools and foundations in its network.
Inspired by its Japan-based head office’s “Large Font Textbook” project, the Printer Division of Fuji Xerox (Thailand) initiated the “Big Font” project here to publish textbooks with large characters to help visually-impaired Thai youths fill gaps in their learning capabilities.
According to the Thailand Association of the Blind, about one per cent of Thailand’s population, or approximately 600,000 people, are visually impaired and two-thirds of them, or 400,000 people, have low vision and require reading materials that are optimized for them. Braille and audio books are the two major formats that are widely used today.
“The Happiness of Kati” author Ngarmpun Vejjajiva said she was happy that people realised the importance of big fonts for the visually impaired. “There are many forms of visual impairment, sometimes it can be a temporary problem such as after an operation or it may come with advanced age and although this group of people may not be that large, if we have a book for them such as the one that Fuji Xerox (Thailand)’s Printer Group is sponsoring, it is very exciting and this should serve as a good example for others to produce such books,” she said.
“The Happiness of Kati” is the evocative novel about of a nine-year-old girl living with her grandmother and cousins who mourns the death of her mother that won the S.E.A. Write Award in 2006 and has been translated into several languages.
Ms Ngarmpun added: “I am very excited when I see ‘The Happiness of Kati’ printed in a big font. It comes across vividly and is easy to read. I am sure the readers will like it and will wait for the sequel ‘Chasing the Moon’ (‘Dtarm Ha Prajan’) and the final episode ‘In a Small World’ (‘Nai Loke Bai Lek’) that is offered in the same style and which should help everyone to be happy together.”
President of the Thailand Association of the Blind and Secretary of Thai Blind People's Foundation Monthian Buntan said that expanding learning opportunities was critical to improving our community. “I’m excited by the first Big Font book supported by Fuji Xerox Printers and other contributors. Our membership not only includes the blind but also has visually-impaired people who need appropriate reading materials,” he added.
“The publication of the S.E.A. Write award-winning book ‘The Happiness of Kati’ under the Big Font project will be beneficial to visually-impaired readers and we are looking forward to other publications in the future,” he said.
Amarin Printing & Publishing Managing Director Rarin Utakapan Punjarungroj said the company was pleased to support a social contribution program like the Big Font project. “Its main objective is to expand learning opportunities for the visually impaired,” she explained.
“We hope that the Big Font project will grow continuously and enable all groups of people in our society to access a wider range of useful reading materials,” she added.
President of the Low-Vision Association of Thailand Thawatchai Lalitsuradej said that he was very impressed that the Fuji Xerox (Thailand) Printer Division, Ms Ngarmpun Vejjajiva and Amarin Printing and Publishing “realized the importance of our education despite our visual impairment.”
“I truly appreciate the Big Font project and I believe that ‘The Happiness of Kati’ will give encouragement and inspiration to visually-impaired readers,” he added.
Fuji Xerox Printers Country Manager Rangsan Naratchariyangkul said that, as the first of its kind in Thailand, the Big Font project would help to narrow the knowledge gap by providing reading materials in appropriate formats to the visually impaired.
“We think that ‘The Happiness of Kati’ is a valuable work of Thai literature that conveys positive thinking about life and happiness around us. We appreciate the help of each contributor,” he added.
“Ms. Ngarmpun Vejjajiva has allowed us to publish her book without any copyright royalty payments, while Amarin Printing and Publishing has printed these special copies for us and the Thailand Association of the Blind will be responsible for distributing 3,000 copies of the published book to over 100 schools and foundations under its supervision,” he said.
About the Big Font Project
Initiated by the Printer Business Unit of Fuji Xerox (Thailand) Co., Ltd, the Big Font project mainly aims to promote reading among persons with low vision by providing special reading materials. Publications under this project will have larger fonts and images optimized for readers with low vision. Inspired by a similar project created by Fuji Xerox Japan, this initiative has started with the publication of 3,000 copies of S.E.A. Write award-winning book “The Happiness of Kati”.
About Fuji Xerox
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. is a 75-25 joint venture between FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation and Xerox Corporation (U.S.A.) that develops world-class office and publishing equipment/systems, digital colour/monochrome multifunction devices, as well as document management software, solutions and services in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. It is also a world leader in printing and finishing solutions and offers a comprehensive range of colour and monochrome printers, available through an extensive reseller channel and retail network. Fuji Xerox’s focus on research and development has led to many breakthroughs and a large number of patents, making it a global leader in technology, which adds greater value and boosts its customers’ productivity and efficiency.
Founded in 1962 with a headquarter in Tokyo, Japan, the Company employs approximately 40,000 people globally, and has more than 60 domestic and overseas affiliates and sales subsidiaries.
For information on Fuji Xerox, simply call 0-2660-8000 Ext. 0211-0217 or visit www.fxprinters.com.
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