Accredited editor, member of IPEd and former research scientist, Dr Joely Taylor, has pieced together an excellent explanation of inclusive and accessible publishing with a list of resources. In it, Dr Taylor references the AIPI and the Round Table for accessible publishing. Please see below for an introduction to the article and a link to read the full version.
“Inclusive and accessible publishing is the creation of published material that is designed to be accessible to everyone. Many clients mistake inclusive publishing as being just for people who are blind or who have vision impairments. But inclusive publishing is about so much more. It is also for people with a range of impairments – including physical, cognitive, sensory, learning and psychosocial disability.
What does disability mean?
Disability applies to people who have long-term physical, mental, cognitive or sensory impairments, which along with environmental and attitudinal barriers, hinders full and equal access to full participation in society. Disability may be visible or hidden, and may be permanent or temporary.
It is important to respect that people with disability, and people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, have the right to self-determine in how they want to be identified, for example, as ‘people with disability’, ‘disabled people’, ‘Deaf’, ‘hard of hearing’ or without labels.
Disability is not a negative term. For many, it means identity, community and culture.
The United Nations has more detail on the definition of disability.”
