The Accessible Reading Symposium is a virtual, two-day, bilingual event designed to help library staff and readers with print disabilities learn about accessible reading in Canada.  

The symposium brings together readers, authors, libraries, content providers, publishers, and technology developers/providers to share practical demonstrations, introductory knowledge, and different viewpoints on accessible reading.  

The Symposium’s goal is to:  

• Help everyone better understand accessible reading and formats.  
• Share the experiences of readers with print disabilities.  
• Strengthen knowledge among libraries, content providers, publishers, technology providers, and readers.  
• Provide library staff and readers with print disabilities the opportunity to explore available tools, formats, and services. 

Conference details

Dates: March 11 and 12, 2026 

Languages: English and French 

Audience: Library staff and readers with print disabilities 

Organizers: National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS); Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA); Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) 

Cost: Free! 

The Accessible Reading Symposium Code of Conduct will be in effect.

Day 1: March 11, 2026 

User Demonstrations and Author Session

French sessions: March 11, 2026, from 9:00 am –11:20 am Eastern (all times are in Eastern) 

• 9:00 am – 9:05 am: Welcome and event introduction 
• 9:05 am – 10:05 am: User-led demonstrations and Q&A 
• 10:05 am – 10:15 am: Break 
• 10:15 am – 11:15 am: Author talk 
• 11:15 am – 11:20 am: Closing remarks 

Register for French User Demonstrations and Author Sessions Wed. Mar. 11 9:00 am - 11:20 am EDT

English sessions: March 11, 2026, from 1:00 pm – 3:20 pm Eastern (all times are in Eastern) 

• 1:00 pm – 1:05 pm: Welcome and event introduction 
• 1:05 pm – 2:05 pm: User-led demonstrations and Q&A 
• 2:05 pm – 2:15 pm: Break 
• 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm: Author talk 
• 3:15 pm – 3:20 pm: Closing remarks 

Register for English User Demonstrations and Author Sessions Wed. Mar. 11 1:00 pm - 3:20 pm EDT

Day 2: March 12, 2026 

Introductions to Accessible Reading Sectors 

Bilingual French/English session: March 12, 2026, from 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Eastern (all times are in Eastern) 

Note: This is a bilingual session. It will have live interpretation into French and English. Attendees can choose their preferred audio language when logging into Zoom on Day 2.  

• 1:00 pm – 1:05 pm: Welcome and event introduction 
• 1:05 pm – 1:25 pm: Libraries 
• 1:25 pm – 1:45 pm: Content Providers 
• 1:45 pm – 2:00 pm: Publisher Organizations 
• 2:00 pm – 2:15 pm: Q&A for Library, Content Providers, and Publisher Organizations 
• 2:15 pm – 2:25 pm: Break 
• 2:25 pm – 3:05 pm: Technology Providers 
• 3:05 pm – 3:20 pm: Q&A for Technology Providers 
• 3:20 pm – 3:30 pm: Closing Remarks 

Register for Introductions to Accessible Reading Sectors Thurs. Mar. 12 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm EDT

An overview of the Accessible Reading Symposium sessions.  

User Demonstrations 

User-led demonstrations showcasing how readers with print disabilities use various accessible reading tools, formats, and technologies in their daily lives. Possible topics and demonstrations include:  

• Assistive technologies 
• Reading different formats 
• New and upcoming technologies 

You will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end! 

There are two separate User Demonstration sessions, one in French and one in English. 

Author Talk

The Author Talk session will highlight how accessibility intersects with reading, writing, and their audiences. This session offers attendees the opportunity to hear directly from an author who is engaged with accessibility.  

There are two separate Author Talk sessions, one in French and one in English. 

Introductions to Accessible Reading Sectors 

Introduction to Accessible Reading Sectors sessions provides foundational overviews from multiple sectors involved in creating and supporting accessible reading. Short presentations will be delivered by multiple Libraries, Content Providers, Publisher Organizations, and Technology providers. Topics of discussion can include: 

• How to support readers with print disabilities, available library services, and evolving practices in libraries. 
• How accessible content is sourced/created, delivered, and integrated into library environments. 
• The role of accessible formats, workflows, and metadata in supporting equitable reading. 
• Accessibility features and demonstrations of technologies (assistive technologies and reading system platforms) and how they support accessible reading.  

This is a bilingual session. It will have live interpretation into French and English. Attendees can choose their preferred audio language when logging into Zoom on Day 2.