About

The Australian Inclusive Publishing Initiative (AIPI) was initiated by the Australian Publishers Association (APA) in 2016 to address the challenge of improving access to books by people living with a print disability. It has brought together, for the first time, publishers, print disability organisations, libraries, copyright organisations, editors, designers, indexers and agents, as well as government and not-for-profit organisations.

This cross-industry collaborative approach is a global first. It has been recognised as an important development by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the International Publishers Association (IPA).

The AIPI aims:

to develop a greater awareness of the needs of people living with a print disability
to communicate the laws that govern access to published content
to build publishing industry capability in producing accessible digital books that are inclusive by design.

The AIPI is confident that creating a shared understanding and promoting cross-sector co-operation will create an efficient and economical system for providing publications that are ‘born accessible’. Inclusive design is good design, and ensuring that books are created with accessibility in mind benefits not just people with a print disability, but all readers.

Fiona Hazard, Jane Curry, Fiona Phillips

Jessica Coates, Libby Baulch, Lee Walker

AIPI group at work at Gilbert + Tobin at November 2018 meeting

Sancha Donald, Tony Starkey, Greg Alchin

What is a print disability?

A print disability is a difficulty or inability to read printed material due to a perceptual, physical or visual disability.

The reasons for print disability vary but may include:

vision impairment or blindness
physical dexterity problems such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis or paralysis
learning disability, such as dyslexia
brain injury or cognitive impairment
literacy difficulties
early dementia

(Definition by Vision Australia.)