Moira Clunie mclunie@rnzfb.org.nz

Making a digital difference: technology and information access for print-disabled readers

Disability is the process which happens when one group of people create barriers by designing a world only for their way of living, taking no account of the impairments other people have.

Print disability (Copyright Act 1994)

a person has a print disability if he or she— (a)Is blind; or (b)Suffers severe impairment of his or her

sight; or (c)Is unable to hold or manipulate books; or (d)Is unable to focus or move his or her

eyes; or (e)Suffers a handicap with respect to visual

perception.

braille

talking book machines

Digital allows for difference

del.icio.us

Digital is different

www.gutenberg.org

www.dailylit.com

Digital Talking Books

www.daisy.org

"The best thing (with DTBs) is that I don't have to worry if the postman has put the parcel out of the rain."

- Aileen

"Even with everyone's best intentions, you can run out. And a day or night without a talking book can be a very long time. With digital books, they are there in a minute."

- Ronnie

"As soon as I finish a book, another book arrives without any trouble at all - if I push the right button!”

- Kitty

Digital can make a difference

www.nzetc.org

Digital can make a difference

“Digital content that is developed from the beginning in a flexible, standards-based, interoperable way, rather than in a proprietary format or converted from print, is a cornerstone of an inclusive digital society.”