Access to the CELA collection is restricted to people with print disabilities living in Canada.

A print disability is a learning, physical or visual disability that prevents a person from reading conventional print.

More specifically, a print disability can be a:

• Learning disability: An impairment relating to comprehension
• Physical disability: The inability to hold or manipulate a book
• Visual disability: Severe or total impairment of sight or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes

This definition of print disability is from the Canadian Copyright Act because it is this Act that lets CELA reproduce published materials in alternative formats for its collection. The term used in the Act is “perceptual disability”.

Read more about Copyright and print disability.

A print disability, as defined in the Canadian Copyright Act, does not include reading difficulties that result from low literacy levels.

When determining eligibility for CELA services, ask yourself if the barrier could be removed by presenting the same content in a different format. If the barrier is related to the material’s content, the definition in the Copyright Act does not apply.

For help determining eligibility, please contact us.

I have a vision disability; am I eligible to use CELA service?

If you are blind or have a significant problem reading ordinary print due to vision impairment, you are eligible to use CELA service.

I have a learning disability; am I eligible to use CELA service?

If you have a condition that affects your ability to read print such as dyslexia you are eligible to use CELA service.

I have a physical disability; am I eligible to use CELA service?

If you cannot pick up a book, turn pages, maintain visual focus on a book or do not have the physical stamina to work with printed material, you are eligible to use CELA service.

I have a print disability, but it’s temporary. Am I eligible to use CELA service?

If you have a print disability, you are eligible to use CELA service during the time that you experience the print disability. Once you regain the ability to read ordinary print, you no longer qualify for CELA service.

Who isn’t eligible to use CELA service?

Anyone who can pick up an ordinary printed book and read it (or could if they learned to read). The exemption in the Copyright Act exists to help people whose disabilities have a major impact on their ability to read.

What information about my print disability do I need to provide to access CELA service? 
You will be asked to indicate which print disability qualifies you to use CELA services. Ask your public library if they require any supporting documentation.

For help determining eligibility, please contact us.