What would you do if your sight suddenly disappeared? Aline wrote two children's books
In this guest blog, Aline Timmermans shares her story. Losing her sight, she also lost her job, driving licence, freedom and, as she describes it, a piece of self-esteem. Aline did not sit still. She wrote two children's books based on her experience. In this blog, she tells more about her story, the creation of these two children's books and how digital accessibility helps her in everyday life.
Concerns about the future
"As a positive-minded mother of Elise and Sjoerd, I regularly worry about the future. Indeed, on my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. This means I start seeing more blurred and my visual field is already narrowed, as if I'm looking through a small tube." Because this diagnosis can lead to blindness, it brought a lot of uncertainty to Aline. For herself, but also for her family
Many questions
Aline worked in childcare for 10 years with love and joy. "Unfortunately, this ended, and I had to hand in my driver's licence immediately as well." Questions that came to Aline's mind were, "What am I still worth now that I no longer work? And I can no longer just go from A to B? Will my children also get this disease? And how far will my eyesight deteriorate?
Kan ik nog wel een goede moeder en partner zijn? Dit waren vragen die bij mij oppopten.
Aline her eye condition as inspiration
Aline is a creative tackler. She soon managed to use her eye condition as inspiration for two picture books. "Through these picture books, I could explain in an understandable way to my children what I saw, and what I kept going to the eye doctor."
Ik wist al snel mijn oogaandoening als inspiratiebron te gebruiken voor een lang gekoesterde wens. Ik besloot, redelijk impulsief, een prentenboek te maken voor mijn kinderen.
The birth of Lientje Leeuw
And so Lientje Leeuw was born and followed by her first picture book, "Lientje Leeuw to the eye doctor". In this book, Lientje Leeuw shows what happens at the eye doctor. In the process, it indicates the difference between "normal vision" and vision with various eye conditions.
"The fact that my manuscript was picked up by a publisher online within a day was very unreal and unexpected. At the same time, it made me proud and immediately opened doors to help not only my children but also other people with my book."
Lientje Leeuw lightens things up a bit
With the (pre-)reading of my book, the conversation about poor vision can be raised in a light-hearted way. Then the questions and stories come naturally. In addition, it strengthens children with poor vision that they are not the only ones. After all, Lientje Leeuw also has to go to the eye doctor, just like her. Meanwhile, Lientje can already count on many fans and not all of them have poor eyesight!
Lientje Leeuw reaches everyone
"It is important to me that my books reach everyone affected by low vision. And I'm already well on my way with that!" Meanwhile, in cooperation with the Oogfonds, the book is on display in all eye departments of hospitals in the Netherlands. "That makes me proud, also that various bodies know how to find me better and better. My story is shared and thus attention is drawn to my book(s)."
The second book quickly followed: Lientje Leeuw learns to walk with the stick
"All this has made me so enthusiastic and driven that I have also written a 2nd book. That book I think everyone should read sometime: Lientje Leeuw leert lopen met de stok. It makes it very clear what Lientje Leeuw is up against both literally and figuratively. The threshold for going outside with a cane and the, to someone else, minor inconveniences she encounters in traffic.
Dit zal hopelijk meteen het bewustzijn van medeweggebruikers vergroten.
Future plans
The concern about Aline's future is still there. "It strengthens me to contribute in this way. That is why I am unconditionally committed to getting my books to the places where they can add value." So a third book in this series is definitely not out of the question. Curious? Then keep an eye on the website www.lientjeleeuw.nl.
Lientje Leeuw and digital accessibility
Lientje Leeuw's website takes digital accessibility into account. "You can immediately see that I have set my website with a black background and white letters. This looks a lot calmer to me" says Aline.
Ook zijn er geen wazige foto’s op de achtergrond, zodat de tekst duidelijk leesbaar is.
Digital accessibility helps people like Aline. "Through the use of Cardan, I also have access to websites. For now, small adjustments are enough for me, but in a while I will use, for example, voice over so that all text and buttons are read out loud." It is nice for Aline when she can order groceries digitally accessible. "Because I can't go to the shop "quickly"."
Getting started with accessibility?
Aline and I hope to have inspired you through this blog. Perhaps this is the starting point for getting started with digital accessibility in your own way. We are happy to help. So feel free to contact us.
