Nairobi workshop inspires African publishers to create new accessible books
An APIF-DAISY Consortium accessible publishing workshop has set a group of 12 African publishers on course to bring more accessible books to market in 2023.
The daylong training, at Book Bunk's Eastlands Library on 13 December, was led by Prashant Verma, a DAISY-affiliated world authority on accessible publishing.
Delhi-based Verma, who is visually impaired, first led the group through the technical aspects of making accessible ebooks from Word.
After lunch, DAISY's CEO Richard Orme joined via Zoom to discuss reading apps and give some advanced eBook production demos.
Finally, Dipendra Manocha, who heads DAISY's developing countries programmes, talked through accessible publishing policy and practice, and how to elevate accessibility on domestic political agendas.
For the 12 publishers in attendance, the workshop marked the end of a year of theory and the start of the practical phase.
In the New Year, several intend to put their newfound knowledge into practice and bring new accessible works into being.
A number have applied for one of the twenty $1,000 APIF grants available for the purpose, with more expected in the coming weeks.