Information Canine has partnered with Beano to create the bespoke story – ‘BEANO Presents – A Buddy for Life’ – which is geared toward elevating consciousness of youngsters and younger folks with visible impairments in addition to of the charity’s providers.
The collaboration additionally sees an audio model – Beano’s first audio caricature story, created particularly for folks with visible impairments – in addition to a digital model with a dyslexia-friendly typeface.
Accessible digitally and in print from right now, 1 Could, the Guide Dogs caricature story sees Beano’s character Erbert, announce his latest sight loss analysis to his mates for the primary time, after assembly a information canine proprietor on the Bash Road College. The characters then make a journey to the Information Canine Nationwide Centre, to seek out out extra concerning the help the charity offers to adults and kids with sight loss.
Commercial
Alex McQueen age 7 alongside together with his buddy canine Probability and information canine proprietor Hester Poole aged 16 along with her information canine Pickle, have been ‘Beanofied’ and seem as their very personal characters within the caricature story pullout. Each Alex and Hester have been supported by Information Canine over time to assist them reside actively and independently.
Every year, over 1,400 households are instructed that their youngster is dropping their sight. With 4 in 5 (83%) adults with sight loss admitting they had been bullied as youngsters, Information Canine has partnered with Beano to lift consciousness of the affect sight loss can have on a toddler or younger particular person. The bespoke caricature story hopes to assist encourage younger folks to be extra accepting and sort to these with visible impairments.
Alex’s mom, Lindsey McQueen from the West Midlands mentioned:
“For Alex and Probability to be was comedian characters in Beano is extraordinarily thrilling for him and all of the household. Not simply because he will probably be showing within the comedian, however as a result of he’s excited to point out off Probability to the world. Information Canine has been supporting Alex since he was 4 years outdated and adjusted his life when Probability the buddy canine got here house in 2022. They’ve a particular bond that has helped each virtually with Alex’s visible impairment but in addition together with his confidence and given him a finest buddy.”
Since 2012, Information Canine has run the Buddy Dog service, matching youngsters who’re blind or partially sighted with canine to assist them develop their self-confidence, make mates and positively affect their wellbeing. Buddy canine are these deemed to be extra suited to dwelling with an adolescent and their household than working as information canine.
Craig Graham, Editorial Director at Beano Studios, who’s on his personal journey with sight loss, mentioned:
“At Beano, it’s essential to us to replicate children’ experiences and assist them navigate life with the enjoyable and mischief that every one children ought to get to get pleasure from. ‘BEANO Presents – A Buddy for Life’ has given us the chance to speak at size about sight loss, which has been a very particular challenge for me as somebody who has a visible impairment. We hope that this particular Information Canine shaggy dog story brings pleasure to children, while additionally serving to them perceive extra about sight loss, how one can be there for his or her mates and highlights the providers accessible to children and younger people who Information Canine supply.”
Alex Pepper, Head of Accessibility at Information Canine, mentioned:
“Our partnership with Beano will assist youngsters be taught extra about visible impairments and the varied providers Information Canine affords in a enjoyable but instructional method. With Erbert opening up about his visible impairment to the Bash Road Youngsters for the very first time, we hope to encourage folks to really feel extra snug sharing their sight loss expertise.
“We intention to lift consciousness of sight loss by our totally accessible bespoke caricature story, which features a first-of-its-kind audio model that permits everybody to get pleasure from and entry the content material throughout a number of codecs. We hope to normalise these conversations so younger folks can higher perceive how one can be inclusive and supportive of everybody.”
The particular caricature story is out there as an insert in Beano challenge out right now, 1 Could. Beano’s first audio-comic strip story is out there here.