Breaking Boundaries: Dolphin partners with Accessible Books Consortium

Dolphin Computer Access and WIPO's Accessible Books Consortium are joining forces

In an exciting leap for inclusivity, Dolphin Computer Access proudly announces its collaboration with the Accessible Books Consortium (ABC), a move set to transform the accessibility landscape for individuals with print disabilities.

Noel Duffy, CEO of Dolphin Computer Access, expresses his enthusiasm, stating, "This collaboration means more people around the world can read in ways that match their needs."

Independent reading for all

With a rich 37-year history, Dolphin is a pioneer in empowering individuals with print disabilities, including vision impairments and dyslexia, to read independently.

It develops Dolphin EasyReader App to make it compatible with a wide range of devices, including smart phones, tablets and PCs. EasyReader App connects readers with print disabilities to accessible libraries and offers customisable features including text enlargement, adjustable colour schemes, and text-to-speech (TTS) audio. This versatile reading app accommodates the needs of readers who are blind, including compatibility for screen readers and braille displays.
 

Equitable access for inclusive communities

The EasyReader App isn't just a tool; it's a gateway to equitable access in education, work, and personal lives. Access to reading material and the means to read it independently means readers with print disabilities can thrive in education and work and make valuable contributions to their communities.

Dolphin and ABC's partnership emerges as a platform that broadens the availability of accessible libraries, reaching individuals who are blind, partially sighted, or otherwise print-disabled. Importantly, this collaboration aims to extend its impact to low and middle-income countries.

Unlocking success through independent reading

Martine Abel-Williamson, President of the World Blind Union, and member of the ABC Advisory Board emphasizes the importance of independent reading, especially for those who might otherwise lack access to books:

This ground-breaking collaboration between ABC and Dolphin is not just opening a door to a vast world of literature; it is ensuring that this door is wide open and easily accessible. This collaboration is a testament to our collective commitment to breaking down barriers in accessing information, allowing those who are blind or partially sighted to seamlessly connect with a wealth of resources essential for education, employment, and personal growth.

Research underscores the significance of reading for pleasure as a key indicator of a child's future success. It has been found to positively influence educational performance, vocabulary development, mental wellbeing, and empathy skills. (World Book Day 2023).

ABC: A global collective for accessible reading

Launched in 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) is a public-private partnership led by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It brings together all the key players – organisations representing people who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print-disabled, authors, publishers, collective management organisations, libraries and other authorised entities – as well as standards bodies.

ABC was established in 2014 to implement the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty. Through an effective international alliance of relevant state an non-state actors, ABC seeks to increase and distribute the number of books globally available in accessible formats such as braille, audio, e-text and large print.
 

Dolphin's commitment to accessibility

Dolphin Computer Access is renowned for developing assistive technology software for people who are blind or partially sighted. With EasyReader App, its impact reaches beyond screen reading and magnification. EasyReader App enables independent reading for individuals with vision impairments, neurodiversity, and other print disabilities.

Through the Dolphin EasyReader App, readers with print impairments can link to accessible libraries globally. This means books and reading are accessible to an ever-expanding audience.

In this collaboration, Dolphin and ABC are able to share access to libraries and offer the means to read independently. It breaks barriers to reading and learning, fosters inclusivity, and unlocks a world of possibilities for every reader.

Dolphin and ABC joining forces encourages a future where no reader is left behind.