Latin America Regional Network (RELALIA)
Region and Scope
RELALIA is a collaborative network made up of organizations, entities, and agencies from Latin America that come together to promote accessibility to books and information in accessible formats for people with visual disabilities and others who face difficulties accessing printed text.
The network covers 33 countries recognized as Latin America countries by the United Nations. These are: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chine, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Suriname, and Guyana.
Regional Context
The network was formed in August 2024 following the participation of various Latin American institutions in the IFLA Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities Section meeting held at the Library of Congress in the United States. Its aim is not only to coordinate regional efforts among participating institutions but also to become a regional actor capable of collaborating with global stakeholders and other regional networks.
Challenges and Opportunities
Nothing for this region.
Activities
The following activities have been identified for action:
- Coordinate collaborative work to avoid duplication of efforts and increase the number of books in accessible formats across Latin America.
- Exchange experiences and practices to jointly develop strategies for the practical implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty in Latin America, leveraging the diversity of involved stakeholders and their areas of expertise.
- Provide support, workshops, and training on tools and techniques for adapting materials into accessible formats for personnel involved in book and information production and management.
- Promote the production and distribution of books and information in accessible formats such as audiobooks, Braille, and digital texts with speech synthesis.
- Raise awareness in society about the importance of accessible information for all people, without discrimination.
Steering Group Members
- Alice K Baker O’Reilly, NLS, USA (DAISY Board Member)
- Yasmine Youssef, ATDO Egypt (DAISY Consortium)
- Pablo Lecuona, Asociación Tiflonexos – Biblioteca Tiflolibros, Argentina.
- Cristina Mantilla: Interuniversity Library Network, Ecuador.
- Roxana Alemán: Service for Persons with Visual Disabilities of the Simón Bolívar Library at the University of Panama, Panama.
- Carlos Pontaza: Comité Pro Ciegos y Sordos de Guatemala, Guatemala
- Arlene Severino: Service for Persons with Visual Disabilities of the Naytional Library
- Ángel Espinal: Asociación de Ciegos del Cibao, Dominican Republic.
DAISY Ambassadors
- Pablo Lecuona, Asociación Tiflonexos – Biblioteca Tiflolibros, Argentina.
- Cristina Mantilla: Interuniversity Library Network, Ecuador.
- Roxana Alemán: Service for Persons with Visual Disabilities of the Simón Bolívar Library at the University of Panama, Panama.
- Carlos Pontaza: Comité Pro Ciegos y Sordos de Guatemala, Guatemala
- Arlene Severino: Service for Persons with Visual Disabilities of the Naytional Library
- Ángel Espinal: Asociación de Ciegos del Cibao, Dominican Republic.
DAISY Membership in the RELALIA Region
- Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind, Brazil
- Casa Editorial Maluhy & Co, Brazil
- FÊNIX EDITORIAL, Brazil
And 5 organizations represented in the Network Partners.
Contact RELALIA
You can contact us at the following email:
- lecuona pablol @ tiflonexos dot org
- YYoussef @ daisy dot org