2010 Conference: Think Globally, Act Locally
For the first time in 2010, Round Table’s Annual Conference was held in Auckland, New Zealand. Conference was held between 23 and 25 May 2010 (with pre-conference tours on 22 May).
The conference was held at the Heritage Auckland, a restored historic building in Auckland’s Central Business District.
News and blog posts related to the 2010 conference are archived in the 2010 Conference category on this blog.
Photos from the 2010 conference are on Flickr.
Conference theme
The theme for Round Table’s Annual Conference in 2010 was Think Globally, Act Locally. The conference considered:
- What are we achieving in the global context through international groups like the International Council on English Braille, the DAISY Consortium, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions and the Global Library initiative?
- What local initiatives have been successful in our communities? How can these be expanded to other regions?
- What are the issues and opportunities for the print disability community in a world where publishing is moving beyond print?
- How are service organisations meeting the changing information access needs of individuals and diverse communities?
- How does access to information empower individuals to participate in society? Where are the biggest gaps in information access?
The theme was explored through a mixed programme of speakers, panel discussions and workshops.
Proceedings
The links below point to the full papers, audio recordings and presentation slides from each presentation at the 2010 Conference.
- Keynote Address: Accessible Information and Human Rights: From Principle to Practice by Robyn Hunt.
- i-access®-How Vision Australia is improving access to information by Andrew Furlong and Karl Hughes
- Say goodbye to Hollywood-separating local from global issues in cinema access by Alex Varley
- Audio Description Services; Collaboration across the Tasman by John Simpson
- Alternative Format Production at a New Zealand University by John Lambert
- Beginning is easy, continuing is hard: Establishing an alternative format service in a multi-campus, nationally dispersed university by Elizabeth Hayward.
- Promoting document accessibility for the Virtual Learning Environment by Kevin Murrow
- Trade Exhibitors’ Presentations
- DAISY Update by Neil Jarvis
- DAISY-examples of local implementations of a global standard
- Global Accessible Library project: an update by Julie Rae
- Trend of DAISY playback device in the world by Mr. Hiromitsu Fujimori
- World Braille Usage Refreshed by Mary Schnackenberg and Dr Judith Dixon
- Transition to Unified English Braille (UEB) in the ICEVI Pacific Region by Josie Howse, Frances Gentle, Karen Stobbs & Janet Reynolds
- Libraries Building Communities: Accessibility needs partnerships by Tony Iezzi
- PLEASED: Victorian Public Libraries Enhancing Access by Katrina Knox
- Once upon a library: NVDA and The Aotearoa People’s Network Kaharoa by Keiran McNabb and Moata Tamaira
- Bringing Braille Music Back from the Brink by Wendy Richards and Lisette Wesseling
- Recent developments in the cognitive science of Braille reading by Ash Mathur, Vania Glyn & Dr. Barry Hughes
- A New Instructional Programme for Later Learners of Braille by Raeleen Smith and Kathryn Johns
- Are Print Disability Consumers connected and heard locally & globally? by Di Francis and Tony Starkey
- Beyond Books: Beyond Barriers – Creating A “Self Serve” Library by David Vosnacos
- i-access ® newspapers before everyone else does-Accessible Information on the day it is published by Tony Iezzi
- Round Table Clear Print Guidelines Workshop
- Round Table E-text Guidelines Workshop
- Update on Round Table guidelines
- Thirty Years Of Progress In Australian Disability Policy: A Parthian Shot by Dr Mike Steer
Exhibitors at Round Table 2010
The 2010 conference included exhibition space for organisations to share products and developments related to information access for people with print disabilities.
Accomplish
Accomplish CashManager is a mainstream accounting package – in the Australasian marketplace for nearly 20 years, and used by over 25,000 small businesses. Due to demand we have modified CashManager to be virtually 100% accessible! Tested with various screen readers and magnification products with great success. Recently audited by both Vision Australia and RNZFB.
Adaptive Technology Solutions
Adaptive Technology Solutions provide assessments, training and products for people with a range of disabilities, including sensory, physical and learning disabilities to make it easier for them to do things like reading printed material and using their computer in order to help them achieve their goals in work, study or leisure.
PLEXTALK
Shinano Kenshi Co. Ltd., and its subsidiary company Plextor, are responsible for the development and manufacturing of digital talking book players (DTBPs) and other assistive technology products sold under the brand name of PLEXTALK. Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd. is the world’s largest manufacturer of DTBPs and a leader in digital recorders since the initiation of the digital talking book players and the creation of the global standard DAISY in 1990′s. PLEXTALK assistive technology products are created to improve the quality of life, self-reliance and independence of their users.
You will see how the company has contributed to the evolution and promotion of DAISY at: http://www.daisy.org/stories/shinano-kenshi
Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind
The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind is New Zealand’s main provider of vision-related habilitation and rehabilitation services to blind and partially sighted people. The Foundation’s vision is empowering and supporting blind and partially sighted New Zealanders to ensure that they have the same opportunities and choices as everyone else.
Vision Australia
Vision Australia is a living partnership between people who are blind, sighted or have low vision. We are united by our passion that in the future people who are blind or have low vision will have access to and fully participate in every part of life they choose.
Exhibitor presentations
Exhibitors presented to conference delegates about their organisation and exhibition space in the “Trade Exhibitors’ Presentations” session on Sunday afternoon. The slides from this session are now online.
Conference Sponsors
Our sincere thanks to the sponsors of the 2010 conference:
Human Rights Commission – Te Kahui Tika Tangata – for providing bags for delegates.
Kokako – for providing food for the Saturday welcome reception.
Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind – Te Tuāpāpā o te Hunga Kāpō o Aotearoa – for producing accessible format conference materials and donating staff time.
Vision Australia – for providing USB memory sticks for each delegate, to allow us to supply conference information in accessible electronic text.
