Accessible books and reading options in Canada

The Centre for Equitable Library Access, commonly called CELA, provides accessible books and other reading material to people in Canada with print disabilities. CELA supports visual, physical, learning, and reading disabilities that make standard print difficult to use.

Individual registration normally uses a public library card from a CELA member library. CELA also supports educators and other professionals who work with people with print disabilities.

Register for CELA

CELA members can also request access to the Bookshare collection. Bookshare access requires proof of disability because of publisher agreements. The proof process is optional, and a CELA member can continue using the CELA collection without completing it.

CELA currently manages the proof process for its members. The form can be completed by an appropriate professional based on the qualifying disability.

CELA proof of disability information

CELA offers several digital and physical formats. Current digital options include DAISY audio, DAISY text, Word, EPUB, HTML, and electronic braille. The best choice depends on your device and whether you prefer audio, synchronized text and speech, enlarged text, or braille.

CELA publishes a current compatibility guide covering phones, tablets, computers, DAISY players, braille displays, and other reading devices.

CELA compatible devices and formats

CELA currently documents Dolphin EasyReader as one option for accessing its collection on phones, tablets, and computers. Its documentation also includes workflows for Voice Dream Reader and other compatible software.

The important part is not choosing one universal app. Start with the book format you can obtain, then choose a reader that works well with your accessibility needs and the device you already use.

CELA reading tutorials

Zambadu maintained an earlier guide to accessible books and assistive reading tools for many years. The details became dated, but the underlying problem did not. Finding a book in a usable format is still often the first challenge before any reading app can help.

This page keeps the useful part of that older guidance while pointing to current authoritative services for rules, eligibility, supported formats, and tutorials.