Episode 240: Crafting Children’s Books About Blindness with Jan Milusich & Megan Dausch

In this episode Shawn sits down with TVI and author Jan Milusich and her former student, poet and digital accessibility professional Megan Dausch, to explore storytelling, representation, and the writing process. Jan shares the journey behind her children’s book “I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea”, a story for ages 4–8 that follows a young girl discovering the changing seasons through touch, sound, smell, and taste. Jan explains how Megan became a sensitivity reader on the project, and what it meant to rework the book into a first-person narrative at the request of the publisher. She also talks about making picture books more accessible through tactile “story boxes” while Megan reflects on being one of Jan’s first students, her own path into poetry and creative writing, and the importance of disabled voices in publishing.

I Hear The Snow, I Smell The Sea https://www.amazon.ca/Hear-Snow-Smell-Sea/dp/0593308174

Blind Beginning’s mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind and low vision and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!