BORDERS THE BOOK SHOP LETS DOWN ITS DISABLED READERS!

[salsmum]

I TOOK MY 18 YEAR OLD DD INTO BORDERS HUGE BOOKSHOP IN LAKESIDE THURROCK YESTODAY AND THOUGHT THE CHOICE FOR BOOKLOVERS WAS AMAZING.
EVERTHING FROM 'GETTING A GAY DEVORCE' TO WAVEFINDING IN TUNISIA. I THEN APPROACHED THE SALESPERSON AND ASKED IF THEY HAD BOOKS WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOR MY DAUGHTER TO READ AND MAYBE DRAW INSPIRATION FROM. [MY DD HAS CEREBRAL PALSY AND IS WHEELCHAIR BOUND]. DD THOUGHT THAT MAYBE 1 OF CHRISTIE BROWNS BOOKS WOULD BE AMONGST THE MILLIONS THEY HAD. [SHE HAS ALISON LAPPER'S BOOK. THE ASSISTANT LOOKED freaked PUZZLED AND TOOK US TO THE FURTHEST CORNER OF SHOP AND POINTED OUT 2 BOOKS BOTH OF WHICH WERE FOR PARENTS WHEN THEY DISCOVER THEIR CHILD HAS SN THAT WAS ALL THEY HAD. I STARTED RANTING THAT MY DAUGHTER SHOULD HAVE THE SAME READING CHOICES AS ANYONE ELSE AND HALF HOUR LATER WHEN MY DAUGHTER WENT OUT THE SHOP WITH SHEER FRUSTRATION THE ASSISTANT CAME TO ME WITH 20 PAGES OF PRINTOFFS THE MANAGER HAD DONE BUT NEARLY ALL WERE LIBRARY REFERENCE BOOKS FOR £40- £85 ...only available online!WHAT IS GOING ON? ARE THERE NO DISABLED AUTHURS OR DO THE SHOPS NOT WANT TO STOCK????

I quite agree with the Borders Rant - they have entire sections on rubbish like paranormal/flying saucers and past life regression/crystal healing but no SN section

Yeah but they are only responding to the corresponding market sizes. They obviously sell loads of diet books and UFO books - these are not niche markets (even if you're not interested yourself, I know I'm not), they are worth millions. If the numbers of people asking for SN-related books suddenly began to make a dent in those sales, I'm sure shelfspace would be made PDQ. And don't forget there are a million more people writing the UFO crap!
At the end of the day, big chain bookstores are big businesses - a bookbuying 'experience', a place to pose/pull or drink coffee or buy at prices that are wrecking the independent booksellers' businesses. They could probably order something for you if you knew author and title so that's why you need to research on the net first.

allow me to share my experience of borders .

I went in there to find a book for dh's birthday. Upon approaching the desk, with my guide dog, the man behind it asked if he could help, to which I responded that I was looking for books about wine and could he help me. "yes certainly" says he, and comes around the counter and takes me to a part of the shop where the books about wine are. he then says "these are the books about wine, I'm assuming you will find what you're looking for here" and goes to walk away. .

Now forgive me, but if someone walked into a shop with a guide dog, wouldn't it be pretty obvious that they might have some issues reading book titleds?

I agree with you Buckets, it is more a state of the world question than why Borders specifically is like that. Still a 'teensy' little SN section would be nice.

Then let's get writing. They can't hear us moan from here you know!