Dr Paul Harpur explores the hurdles faced by people with print disabilities such as blindness, dyslexia and quadriplegia in his new book, Discrimination, Copyright and Equality – Opening the e-Book for the Print-Disabled.
The law must do more to help people with print disabilities achieve reading equality.
Dr Harpur says that the print disabled are in the midst of a ‘book famine’ despite new equality laws and innovations in technology.
“In theory, technology has opened up access to the written word,” Dr Harpur said.
“Adaptive technologies like e-books, iPhones, and e-readers have revolutionised the way the print disabled can consume content. When you factor in anti-discrimination and human rights laws, there’s no good reason why anyone should be denied access.
“Unfortunately, copyright concerns usually beat out equality of access. For instance, a lot of core textbooks aren’t available as e-books because publishers want people to pay for content and limit students illegally sharing material with their friends.
