The CELA collection is available to people with print disabilities living in Canada. A print disability is a disability that prevents or inhibits a person from reading a literary, musical, dramatic or artistic work in its original format.

Examples of a print disability can be:

• 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

Section 32 of the Copyright Act of Canada allows for the reproduction of published materials in alternate formats for people with perceptual disabilities. It is this exception in the Copyright Act that allows CELA to produce and make available alternate format materials. A perceptual disability, as defined in the Copyright Act, is broader in scope than print disability, because the Copyright Act includes an exception not only for making print materials accessible, but also for making works accessible to people with disabilities that prevent a person from ‘hearing a literary, musical, dramatic or artistic work in its original format.” CELA usually uses the term ‘people with a print disability’ to describe those who can use our services because our collections are intended to make print materials accessible, and don’t specifically address the needs of people who are Deaf or have hearing loss. 

For further information, read the complete text of Section 32  as well as the definition of a perceptual disability in the Copyright Act.

The provisions of the Copyright Act are intended to put people with a print disability in the same position as those without a disability, with the goal of achieving equitable access to works in accessible formats. For access to CELA’s collection, users are asked to self-declare their print disability to be eligible for CELA’s services.

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.