[A2k] Canada: National Strategy Puts Information Access on the Agenda for People With Print Disabilities

[Teresa Hackett (eIFL)]

http://tinyurl.com/6pvhj5

PRESS RELEASE

National Strategy Puts Information Access on the Agenda for People With
Print Disabilities

Last update: 12:29 p.m. EST Dec. 2, 2008

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Dec 02, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- On December 3,
2008, representatives from the library community and the publishing
sector are coming together with consumers and consumer groups in a
unique forum to discuss the progress of the Initiative for Equitable
Library Access (IELA) in addressing the present state of access to
information and the future needs of people with print disabilities. The
event is being organized by Library and Archives Canada on the occasion
of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
"Library and Archives Canada is working with the library community to
ensure that information is accessible to all Canadians," stated Ian E.
Wilson, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. "With the collaboration of
Canadian libraries, publishers, consumer groups and government leaders,
we are moving forward in raising awareness to the needs of people with
print disabilities."

"I commend the Government of Canada for the leadership it has shown in
funding the Initiative for Equitable Library Access," added Jim Sanders,
President of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). "I'm
aware of the current efforts of the IELA team and its collaboration with
the Canadian Library Association, individuals who have print
disabilities and other stakeholders across the country, to finally bring
forward a 'made in Canada' model for equitable public library services."
Strong interest from consumer groups and library communities led to the
announcement in October 2007 of $3 million in funding from the
Government of Canada to Library and Archives Canada towards the
Initiative for Equitable Library Access. With input from Canadian
libraries, people with print disabilities, publishers and producers of
alternate formats, the Initiative is developing a national strategy to
assist Canadians with print disabilities to access library collections.
During the forum, a report will outline the major accomplishments since
the consultations and research undertaken with libraries, consumer
groups, publishers and producers of alternate formats. These results
have enabled Library and Archives Canada and the Initiative for
Equitable Library Access, to successfully develop a blueprint to upgrade
the degree of service in libraries for all Canadians with print
disabilities.

Key participants at the event will include Ian E. Wilson, Librarian and
Archivist of Canada, Euclid Herie, President of the World Braille
Foundation, the Honourable James K. Hugessen, Deputy Judge of the
Federal Court, Roch Carrier, Honorary Chair of the National Adult
Literacy Database and former National Librarian of Canada, and Jim
Sanders, President of the CNIB.

More than three million Canadians have print disabilities. Print
disabilities prevent people from reading standard print because of a
visual, perceptual, physical or learning disability. With a significant
percentage of the Canadian population aging, the need for access to
information with print material in alternate formats is increasing. The
IELA is leading the way in addressing the needs of information access
for all Canadians.

For more information on the Initiative for Equitable Library Access,
please visit: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/iela/.

IELA - Initiative for Equitable Library Access

BACKGROUNDER

In 2000, the Task Force on Access to Information for Print-Disabled
Canadians, a joint initiative of the National Library of Canada and the
CNIB, found that three million Canadians are Print-Disabled. Print
disabilities prevent people from reading standard print due to a visual,
perceptual or physical disability. Thus, they need print material in
alternate formats (e.g., Braille, audio, large print) and accessible
electronic resources to meet their information needs.
Following the work of the Task Force in 2000, Library and Archives
Canada addressed many of the recommendations made by the task force, and
notably established the Council on Access to Information for
Print-Disabled Canadians which continues to be a liaison between LAC and
libraries, publishers, producers and consumers with print-disabilities.
Continuing advocacy on the part of consumer groups led to the
announcement in 2007 of $3 million in funding from the Government of
Canada to Library and Archives Canada towards the Initiative for
Equitable Library Access (IELA), to assist Canadians with print
disabilities in their access to library collections. The Initiative is
being carried out in partnership with Canadian libraries, people with
print disabilities, publishers and other stakeholders.
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities,
the first anniversary of the creation of the IELA and the eve of the
200th anniversary of Louis Braille, Library and Archives Canada is
hosting a forum, with key stakeholders, to discuss the needs of the
print-disabled and the progress made towards equitable library access.

Contacts:
Library and Archives Canada
Pauline M. Portelance
Senior Media Relations Officer
819-994-4589 or 613-293-4298