Making Children’s Books More Inclusive and Accessible – The Blind Poet

Poet, advocate and Henshaws Patron Dave Steele, The Blind Poet, has always believed in the power of words. In our latest video, he shares the inspiration behind his children’s book series Austin’s Amazing Adventures.

Dave himself has Retinitis Pigmentosa, a progressive eye condition that has left him severely sight impaired. Whilst navigating this journey, he has built a large online community of people facing similar challenges, using his poetry to provide comfort and give a voice to those affected by blindness and low vision. 

The Spark Behind Austin’s Amazing Adventures

The idea began six years ago, when Dave read an article by beloved children’s author Julia Donaldson. In the piece, Donaldson called for more children with disabilities to be represented in children’s stories.

Dave recalled:

As soon as I read that article, I had this eureka moment… Children with disabilities and additional needs need to see themselves within the characters within children’s stories. It’s so they can feel seen and understood, and other children can see that these children are just like them.

That realisation sparked Austin’s Amazing Adventures, a poetic series named after Dave’s son, Austin.

Representation and Imagination

Each story follows Austin, a young visually impaired boy navigating school life and friendship. The books explore inclusion through relatable moments: learning new skills, meeting new friends and discovering what makes each person unique.

In the first book, The Big Test, Austin and his teacher learn braille together, after noticing he can’t see the whiteboard at school. The second book, The Unstoppable Duo, introduces Josh, a new classmate who uses a wheelchair. The pair quickly become close friends, using their imaginations to turn everyday life into grand adventures. As the series progresses, Dave intends to introduce new characters to represent as many different types of people as possible.

Through these stories, Dave hopes children who share these experiences will feel seen and understood. He also hopes that every reader learns to lead with empathy and look beyond disability. Each book includes thoughtful talking points at the back to help parents, teachers and guardians guide conversations about difference and understanding.

Making the World’s Most Accessible Children’s Books

Accessibility was at the heart of the project from day one. As someone living with sight loss, Dave wanted to ensure that Austin’s Amazing Adventures could be enjoyed by every child, family member and educator.

I wanted these books to be the most accessible books for everyone.

Accessibility Features

Each title includes:

• Large print for readers with low vision
• Free downloadable audio version with full narration & audio descriptions (via NaviLens code)
• PENfriend compatibility, allowing readers to hear or record the story
• Braille Edition available from the RNIB online shop (also includes other accessibility features)

This combination of features makes Austin’s Amazing Adventures one of the most accessible children’s book series in the world, and a benchmark for how inclusion and design can work hand in hand.

Changing Perceptions

At its heart, Austin’s Amazing Adventures is about empathy and belonging. Through poetic storytelling, Dave hopes to show that difference is not a limitation, but a part of what makes every adventure amazing.

In the video below, you can hear from Dave himself as he shares how his storytelling can help children everywhere see disability and inclusion in a whole new light.