Bringing multisensory books to people with disabilities

Student Doan Vu Minh Thu, grade 12/7 student of Nguyen Trai High School (Lien Chieu ward) received the title " Da Nang Reading Culture Ambassador" 2025.

From a personal desire to a creative “TOUCH” solution, Minh Thu’s idea originated from a sympathetic question: “How will people with disabilities access books in the digital age?”.

That concern deepened when she thought about her blind grandfather. Inspired by the work "Balloons in the Sky" by writer Nguyen Nhat Anh, Minh Thu turned love into action through the project "Touch the book, touch the dream".

The core solution of the project called “TOUCH” is the combination of tactile books and audio technology. Minh Thu said that the books are made of cardboard or fabric, with embossed objects and shapes inside for readers to touch and feel. Each page also has Braille, helping the visually impaired to read and understand the content.

"The creativity lies in the details. Behind each book is a sound button to narrate the content. The button uses replaceable batteries for long-term use," Minh Thu shared.

Minh Thu gives a visual example: “With the geometric theme, squares will have sharp corners, circles are smooth. When you touch them, the sound button will help you identify the image more clearly.”

This is not just reading but a multi-sensory learning experience, helping people with print disabilities to feel, grasp and remember knowledge more easily and interestingly.

The highlight of the project lies at the end of the contest video , when Minh Thu uses sign language for the deaf to send greetings and thanks - a small action carrying a great message that knowledge and love need to "touch" every heart.

Evaluating the project, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Khanh, Lecturer of the Faculty of Literature - Communication, Da Nang University of Education, member of the Jury of the contest, said that the project "TOUCH" was moved by the "kind feelings of youth", when young people knew how to worry about books and find ways for knowledge to deeply touch all senses.

Ms. Phuong Khanh believes that the intersection between artistic creativity, social applicability and humanistic spirit has created a special mark, helping the "TOUCH" project go beyond the framework of a school product, becoming an inspirational message "The journey requires patience and a loving support".

With such a complex idea, Minh Thu once doubted herself. She considered herself “not afraid of difficulties”, but admitted that for a high school student, realizing such an idea was a big challenge.

Minh Thu shared: “What motivates me is the value that the product brings, the fact that it can help the people I target. That belief has become the motivation for me to boldly participate in the contest, sending my ideas and aspirations to turn them into reality."

For a seed to grow, it needs good soil to nurture it. For Minh Thu, that “soil” is Nguyen Trai High School. The joy of teachers and students this year is even more complete as this is the second time the school has had a student honored as an Ambassador, along with the excellent award of Nguyen Thi Bao Tam.

Minh Thu shared: “This joy is not only mine, but also the result of encouragement from the school, inspirational literature lessons and dedicated guidance from the teachers in the Literature group. The school library is also the place that nurtured my love of books.”

With the title of "Da Nang Reading Culture Ambassador" in 2025, Minh Thu cherishes many plans and hopes to realize the first book "TOUCH".

Minh Thu's story lights a warm flame of compassion and creativity among the young generation, proving that when knowledge is combined with an empathetic heart, meaningful things can become reality.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/mang-sach-da-giac-quan-den-nguoi-khuet-tat-3306159.html