Welcome
Round Table conference
The Round Table conferences showcase the latest developments in accessibility, featuring technical research, presentations, and practical workshops. They serve as a platform for sharing best practices in accessible information provision across workplaces, educational institutions, libraries, and all levels of government.
Read more about the Round Table conference.
Accessible Book Consortium (ABC) Award
In 2024, the Round Table was awarded the Accessible Book Consortium International Excellence Award for its enduring contributions to accessibility.
About the Round Table
The Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities is a membership organisation that includes education, government, business, alternate format producers, community, and disability organisations across Australia and New Zealand. Our vision is to ensure all published content is simultaneously available to people with print disabilities at equal cost and in their preferred format, promoting born-accessible content and universal design principles. Supporting this vision, our mission focuses on facilitating the production of quality alternative formats by leveraging and optimising our collective expertise and knowledge.
Read more about the Round Table.
What is a print disability?
A print disability is a condition that prevents a person from effectively reading or using printed materials. This includes:
- Visual impairments like blindness or low vision.
- Physical disabilities that affect someone’s ability to hold or manipulate printed materials, such as difficulty turning pages due to arthritis, paralysis, or other motor impairments.
- Learning/cognitive disabilities like dyslexia, where someone may struggle to process or comprehend printed text despite having adequate vision.
Print disabilities often require the use of accessible formats and assistive technologies like:
- Screen readers that convert digital text to speech.
- Large print materials or magnification devices.
- Audiobooks and recordings.
- Braille materials.
- Text-to-speech software.
- Digital accessible formats like EPUB.
The term is important legally and practically because people with documented print disabilities may be eligible for special accommodations in educational and workplace settings, as well as access to specialised formats of copyrighted materials.
Understanding print disability helps ensure information and reading materials can be made accessible to everyone who needs alternative formats
Why is information access so important?
Information access is fundamental to human rights, democracy, and individual empowerment. Without access to information, people cannot fully participate in education, employment, healthcare, or civic life. This limited access creates barriers to social mobility and reduces personal autonomy, affecting everything from health choices to voting decisions.
Access to information about governments, corporations, and institutions is essential for transparency and accountability, enabling citizens to make informed decisions and advocate for their interests. This becomes especially critical during crises like natural disasters or public health emergencies, where timely, accurate information can save lives.
In our knowledge-based economy, information access opens doors to economic and educational opportunities, allowing people to build on existing knowledge, collaborate, and innovate. By ensuring equitable access through accessible formats, assistive technologies, and inclusive design, we can break down barriers and enable everyone to reach their full potential.