PRESENTATION

Presentation Description:

Print disabilities are common in Australia (affecting 1 in 5 adult Australians) and introduce significant challenges into many facets of life, including education, employment and social participation. Many of these challenges can be alleviated by making information readily available in accessible formats, such as audio or Braille. To support people with a print disability, ALIA guidelines state that public libraries should provide information in accessible formats, as well as tools and technology which make information accessible. However, recent research has shown that many public libraries are not meeting those guidelines, generally due to a lack of resources and training. The Vision Australia Library seeks to remedy this by providing public libraries with free training on print disabilities, as well as access to its vast catalogue of titles in accessible formats. These resources will be delivered via a dedicated website which is currently being developed in consultation with a diverse group of public libraries. The Vision Australia Library hopes that by working with public libraries and home library services, we can collectively support the right and desire of many people to age in place, further strengthening the connection between public libraries and the people they support.