Caribbean Regional Network
Region and Scope
The Caribbean region comprises a diverse group of island nations and territories located in the Caribbean Sea and surrounding areas. Caribbean nations can be divided into several language groups. Prominent being, English, French, Spanish or Dutch. At this initiation stage, the DAISY Caribbean regional network primarily covers English-speaking Caribbean countries and territories, including Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago. There are also South American countries with Caribbean identity which are included in this network. Eg: Guyana.
The region is characterized by cultural diversity, multilingualism, and shared historical and socio-economic ties. However, The English speaking countries have lot in common, such as all these countries use same textbooks and curriculum at school level.
Regional Context
The Caribbean is home to more than 45 million people, including a significant number of persons with disabilities. While many countries in the region have adopted policies and legislation promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, access to information, education, and reading materials in accessible formats remains limited. Educational institutions, libraries, and disability organizations often face challenges in producing and distributing accessible content at scale.
The region has a strong tradition of regional cooperation through organizations such as CARICOM and other intergovernmental and civil society networks. This collaborative environment presents significant opportunities to improve access to information and knowledge for persons with print disabilities through shared resources, expertise, and coordinated action.
Challenges and Opportunities
Persons with print disabilities across the Caribbean continue to encounter barriers in accessing information and educational resources. Key challenges include:
- Limited availability of books, educational materials, and other publications in accessible formats.
- Insufficient technical capacity and resources for the production of accessible content.
- Limited awareness and implementation of accessibility standards among publishers, educational institutions, and public agencies.
- Fragmented efforts across countries, resulting in duplication of work and limited sharing of accessible resources.
- Inadequate access to assistive technologies and training for users and service providers.
The DAISY Caribbean Network aims to address these challenges by bringing together organizations, libraries, educational institutions, government agencies, and disability advocates to promote accessible publishing and inclusive access to information. Through collaboration and capacity building, the network seeks to ensure that persons with print disabilities throughout the Caribbean can participate fully in education, employment, culture, and community life.
Activities
The following activities have been identified for action:
- Strengthening collaboration among organizations serving persons with print disabilities across the Caribbean.
- Building capacity in the production and distribution of accessible digital publications and educational materials.
- Promoting the adoption of international accessibility standards and best practices.
- Facilitating knowledge exchange and sharing of accessible resources among member organizations.
- Supporting the implementation and utilization of the Marrakesh Treaty across the region.
- Expanding network membership to include organizations from all Caribbean countries and territories.
- Increasing the availability and diversity of accessible format titles in the region.
- Raising awareness among governments, publishers, educators, and other stakeholders about inclusive publishing and information accessibility.
Steering Group Members
- Helen Johnson, National Library and Information System Authority, Trinidad and Tobago
- Donna Hall-Comissiong, National Library and Information System Authority, Trinidad and Tobago
- Conrad Harris, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Jamaica
- Kenneth Suratt, Blind Welfare Association, Trinidad and Tobago
- DAISY Board member: Alice O’Reilly, National Library Service, United States of America
DAISY Ambassadors
- Conrad Harris, Jamaica Society for the Blind, Jamaica
- Kenneth Suratt, Blind Welfare Association, Trinidad and Tobago
Contact the DAISY Caribbean Region
You can contact us at the following email address:
- dmanocha @ daisy dot org