[jats-list] Canadian Blind Scholars Share their Experiences of Journal and other Digital Content

["Mark Weiler mweiler@xxxxxx" <jats-list-service@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I imagine this panel presentation by five blind Canadian scholars will be of
interest to JATS. It gives a human dimension to inaccessible journal article
experiences.

Title: Ensuring that the "World's Knowledge is Accessible By All": Canadian
Blind Scholars Share their Experiences of Journal and other Digital Content
Presenters: Cynthia Bruce, Melanie Marsden, Natalie Martiniello, Christopher
Schiafone, Ashley Shaw
Facilitator: Mark Weiler
Video recording, vimeo, 30 minutes<https://vimeo.com/770786119>

Abstract:
The Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) and its members are critical
partners in the work of ensuring access to the world's knowledge for a
diversity of students and faculty with print disabilities. The 2016 CRKN model
license was a step in the right direction. However, unless principles of
accessibility are intentionally centred at all stages of CRKN's activities -
from procurement of academic journal subscriptions and eBooks, to negotiation
with vendors, and the digitization of existing and often historic print
resources - CRKN members may actually create and sustain accessibility
barriers for disabled readers. In this round table presentation, blind
scholars from diverse academic fields of study at Canadian universities and at
various stages of our academic careers will highlight why strong and
reciprocal community collaboration and deliberate relationship building are
essential for CRKN to ensure its activities support digital accessibility. The
panel will demonstrate how blind scholars access journal articles and eBooks
with screen readers and braille displays. We will describe the everyday access
barriers we face when we try to engage with the journal articles and other
digital materials we require to complete and teach courses and undertake a
diversity of research projects. We will also describe the significant personal
impacts of encountering inaccessible library materials. Finally, we will offer
our perspectives on practical solutions that are grounded in an assertion that
accessibility is necessarily facilitated by a collective commitment across
CRKN members and a collaborative relationship that centres diverse disabled
expertise in all aspects of this work.
Conference: Canadian Research Knowledge Network
Date: October 3, 2022

Sincerely,

Mark Weiler, PhD (he & him)
JAWS certified and Web Accessibility Specialist
Web & User Experience Librarian
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario