Accelerating Publishing Accessibility through Collaboration in Europe

ongoing

"Everyone has the right to read choosing among all the publications available on the market. APACE (Accelerating Publishing Accessibility through Collaboration in Europe) is a network set to enhance social inclusion for over 100 million print impaired in EU (blind, visual impaired, dyslexic persons), creating a bidirectional dialogue between two target communities: publishers and specialist organisations producing accessible publications in alternative formats. Involving actors from both communities, represented respectively by 3 publishers associations and 3 specialist organisations, under the coordination of Fondazione LIA, APACE will promote innovation in the production and distribution process of Born Accessible publications, expanding efficiency to increase the number of accessible ebooks and positioning accessibility as a strategic asset in Europe. APACE will enhance the capacity of the EU publishing industry in the accessibility field, filling the current gap of competences and creating a new generation of professional experts. By the end of the project APACE will reach 20 organisations in 18 countries involving more than 2600 participants in its activities. It will foster new forms of collaboration by leveraging digital opportunities and implementing a wide range of initiatives including: •Capacity building through training courses and the Accessibility Summer School •Networking opportunities such as Meet-Ups and ""Ask the Experts"" •Awareness events in various formats to promote accessibility best practices •Pilot projects experimenting new methods for producing and distributing accessible ebooks All the activities will be in line with the European Accessibility Act (EU Directive 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services) and based on the adoption of existing open, interoperable, international standards. The results (i.e. guidelines, best practices, whitepapers) will be made available through the European Accessibility Directory. "