[BlindTlk] FW: [GTTsupport] Accessible Publishing Summit: Advocating for Born Accessible Books

Thu Oct 24 18:23:19 UTC 2019

This is interesting, y'all.  Your thoughts?

Original Message: 
From: "Albert Ruel" <albertruel at gmail.com>
To: <GTTSupport at Groups.io>
Subject: [GTTsupport] Accessible Publishing Summit: Advocating for Born
Accessible Books
Date: 
Thu, 24 Oct 2019 10:00:33 -0700

FYI.  

  <http://media.campaigner.com/media/58/580375/NNELS/nnels.png> 

Accessible Publishing Summit: Advocating for Born Accessible Books

Current estimates are that only 5 to 10 percent of all published
materials in any given year are available in accessible formats. The
National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) believes we can do
better.  NNELS, and our partners, are advocating for an ecosystem in which
all published materials in Canada are available in accessible formats at
the time of publication - aka, 
<http://trk.cp20.com/click/cftj-1gefwj-l4y5ii-5knzjr59/> born accessible. 

Born accessible books are created at the outset in a way that readers
with print disabilities can read them using whatever assistive technology
best works for them. Some of the grant-funded initiatives currently being
worked on by NNELS are designed to advance the conversation and work toward
improving the accessible publishing landscape in Canada.

Awesome Attendees and Powerful Participation

In January of 2019, NNELS gathered over 50 people from the ebook
production, publishing, and distribution supply chain in Toronto to
participate in the first Accessible Publishing Summit, a two-day meeting on
accessible publishing. Attendees came from across Canada, with a few coming
from the U.S. as well; all braving the chilly Canadian winter. A massive
snowstorm, which buried the city in a record-breaking amount of snow,
patiently waited until the summit had begun, and all the participants who
came from away were safely in Toronto!

  <http://media.campaigner.com/media/58/580375/images/snowy-street.jpg> 

The key goal of the summit was to create a space where those who have a
stake in accessible publishing would be able to work together to build a
community, develop partnerships, and work on the ways in which the
accessible publishing landscape can be developed and improved upon in
Canada.

<http://media.campaigner.com/media/58/580375/images/Daniella_demonstrating_2.
jpeg> 

The passion for accessible publishing held by participants was clear from
the start; there was 100% attendance on the first day, which can be a
rarity for this kind of event! Over two full days, participants actively
engaged in numerous discussions and brainstorming sessions, worked up lists
of ideas, and talked through existing and potential challenges. For a great
breakdown of the events of the two days, please take a look at Sarah
Hilderley of Inclusive Publishing's excellent 
<http://trk.cp20.com/click/cftj-1gefwj-l4y5ij-5knzjr50/> blog post. And,
for an overview of what went on at the summit, as well as some of the key
lessons, check out our 
<http://trk.cp20.com/click/cftj-1gefwj-l4y5ik-5knzjr51/> Executive Summary
and report. 

After the Summit: What's Next?

Following the summit, participants filled out a survey, and the results
were overwhelmingly positive. 92% of attendees agreed that we had gained a
deeper understanding of accessible publishing; 82% felt that we had
identified some "next steps" for advancing accessible publishing in Canada;
and, 92% felt that we had built a sense of community for future
collaboration.

The development of a strong community and network was one of the key
goals of the summit, and quite a few attendees commented that they were
able to build connections and collaborate with people and stakeholders they
may have otherwise never have had a chance to meet. Here is what some of
the summit attendees had to say:

"I came back to the office with the intention to put the questions of
accessible books at the heart of our priorities."

"I think that having so many people from a diverse range of communities
within the umbrella of accessible publishing worked really well in creating
an exchange of dialogue."

"The group was united, and everyone had a sincere desire to make progress
during the summit. People from different horizons understood each other."

NNELS is excited to continue building on the incredible work achieved by
participants at the first Accessible Publishing Summit. Thanks in part to a
grant from the federal government's Social Development and Partnership
Program - Disability Component (SDPP-D), NNELS will be coordinating next
steps and hosting a second Accessible Publishing Summit on January 26 and
27, 2020.

The road to widespread born accessible publishing will not be easy;
however, we are committed to working with our partners and with the ebook
production and distribution industry to make it happen, and this is just
what we are doing with our Accessible Publishing Summits.

To learn more about this and other exciting initiatives, please visit our
website at  <http://trk.cp20.com/click/cftj-1gefwj-l4y5il-5knzjr52/>
www.accessiblepublishing.ca  and the 
<http://trk.cp20.com/click/cftj-1gefwj-l4y5im-5knzjr53/> grants update
page. 

The National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) is a digital
public library of downloadable titles for Canadians with perceptual
disabilities, supported and fueled by a growing network of readers,
community organizations, librarians, publishers, and accessible format
producers in Canada and abroad. NNELS is funded and supported by provincial
and territorial governments, and is available to any public library user
with a print-disability in Canada. Please visit 
<http://trk.cp20.com/click/cftj-1gefwj-l4y5in-5knzjr54/> nnels.ca for more
information.

[Image source for snow-covered cars: Bert Dandy; 
<http://trk.cp20.com/click/cftj-1gefwj-l4y5io-5knzjr55/>
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/01/29/toronto-record-breaking-snowfall/]

National Network for Equitable Library Service
c/o BC Libraries Cooperative
#330-268 Keefer St.
Vancouver British Columbia V6A 1X5
Canada 

This email is intended for AlbertRuel at Gmail.com
<mailto:AlbertRuel at Gmail.com> .
Update your preferences
<http://trk.cp20.com/form?1gefwj--siuo-5knzjr58&sl=r3&t=1&ac=cftj>  or
Unsubscribe
<http://trk.cp20.com/form?1gefwj--siuo-5knzjr58&sl=r3&t=5&ac=cftj> 

<http://www.campaigner.com/?utm_source=campaigner&utm_medium=email&utm_campai
gn=deliveryfooter> 

  <http://trk.cp20.com/open/cftj-1gefwj--5knzjr55/img.gif> 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.

View/Reply Online (#21320): https://groups.io/g/GTTsupport/message/21320
Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/37051349/541
Group Owner: GTTsupport+owner at groups.io
Unsubscribe:
https://groups.io/g/GTTsupport/leave/3285554/1174730913/xyzzy 
[eric at pmpmail.com]
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-