Innovative Technologies: Making the world of books accessible to people who are print disabled | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

A panel discussion on “Innovative Technologies: Making the world of books accessible to people who are print disabled” will take place on 25 March 2015, from 13:15 to 15:00, in Conference Room 9 in New York at UN Headquarters. The event is co-organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).

The World Summit for Social Development in 1995 resulted in a commitment to ensure that persons with disabilities achieve full participation in society with the help of assistive technology.

More than 90% of the world’s books are not accessible to persons with print disabilities (“the global book famine”). Collaborative efforts are critically important to ensure that persons with visual impairments can access braille, audio or large print books, and they rely on legal advancements such as the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty for Persons Who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. The Accessible Books Consortium was created similarly to address the technical barriers which hinder access to such books. This panel will discuss ways to ensure that all persons can participate fully in global cultural life and education in the post-2015 era.

Download the Flyer-wipo-desa-innovtech2015.

To learn more about DSPD Focal Point on Disability (UN Enable), please visit: www.un.org/disabilities

To learn more about the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty, please visit: http://bit.ly/wipo-marrakech2013