Inclusive Storytelling: StoryBox Library’s Auslan Series
StoryBox Library believes that instilling a love for reading in kids has the power to foster empathy and encourage wider human connection.
Through their digital platform, SBL gives pre-school and primary-aged kids access to an ever-expanding library of stories, read aloud by local storytellers, as well as immersive activities, engaging short films and learning from home task sheets.
With the help of a $16,600 Telematics Trust grant, StoryBox Library has been able to widen their scope by adding Auslan translations of 13 beloved stories to their platform for the first time, accompanied by Activity Time videos – ensuring that even more kids are able to free their imaginations, expand their worldview and develop a joy of reading.
The Power of Reading
Reading is a fundamental skill that determines how engaged a child will be in future learning.
However, children with diverse abilities, needs, and backgrounds are often disadvantaged by a lack of teaching methods that cater to them. Recognising this, StoryBox Library has established a multimodal approach to storytelling that incorporates not only written and spoken language, but visual images, audio, gestural and spatial modes of communication as well.
Essential to SBL’s approach is providing alternative storytelling experiences for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Auslan translations of books are a fantastic way of delivering stories to these children and are highly valued by educators and families, but have been scarce in an online format.
When they do exist, SBL found that these resources are often of low quality and low production value, with the interpreter occupying only a small portion of the screen.
Bringing Translations to Life
With their grant from Telematics Trust in hand, StoryBox Library selected 13 books from the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards shortlist and worked closely with Auslan Consultancy to bring the Auslan translations to life.
Since their launch on the StoryBox Library website, these translated stories have been viewed thousands of times, predominantly by 3 to 12-year-olds, and received glowing reviews from representatives at the Department of Education and the Victorian College of the Deaf.
When asked about the project, Nicole Brownlee, CEO and Founder of StoryBox, had this to say:
“StoryBox is immensely grateful to the Telematics Trust for the grant that launched our Auslan StoryTime series. This support allowed us to partner with Auslan Consultancy to research and produce 13 translated stories, significantly enhancing accessibility for Deaf children. As an inclusive resource, Auslan StoryTime bridges the gap in access to stories, fostering a love for reading among all children. Since then, we’ve expanded to 48 stories, with 40 more set to launch in early 2025.”
Storytime, anytime
As Nicole makes clear, this project marked the beginning of a very well-received series of Auslan-translated stories created by StoryBox Library.
Telematics is delighted to witness this success and recognises that SBL’s format has been established in the wider community as best practice for further Auslan-based projects.
We are excited to see what SBL is able to achieve next in their mission of making storytime, anytime.
To find out more about StoryTime Library’s Auslan translations and their wider platform, visit their website here.
