Calendar

Enriching the navigation experience.
Reserve your seat: http://www.yourdolphin.com/dolphin.asp?id=459

Pre-Conference July 12-13, 2010. Details are available on the ICCHP Conference website.

Details are available on the AHEAD website.

Using Dolphin Publisher as a recording tool to make fully synchronised text and speech books.

Description enthusiasts who are unable to be in Phoenix, AZ for the Conference can listen in and participate via text by registering for virtual attendance. Please go to https://www.acb.org/acart/adp-project.htm

This symposium brings together a diverse group of scientists & engineers in research & industry; clinicians in healthcare & research; professional care providers, and students. The symposium will showcase emerging technologies, their motivations and applications from around the world. Through over two dozen peer-reviewed papers, a poster session, and panels, presenters will discuss their latest research and findings. Keynote speakers, well-known international scientists and clinicians, will present their talks at the Symposium.

Details are available on the Symposium website.

Making a fully synchronised speech & text book using TTS.
Reserve your seat: http://www.yourdolphin.com/dolphin.asp?id=456

Techshare Mobile 2010 will feature keynotes from RIM and Nokia and other workshop leaders from the world of mobile technology. The day will showcase innovations in digital technology for blind and partially sighted people and others with disabilities. There will be a strong focus on hardware and software including mobile phones, netbooks, tablets and portable reading devices. Mobile web will also be a key element of discussions. More information is available on the RNIB website.

Making a Table of Contents/Audio only book from an existing MP3 or WAV file.
Reserve your seat: http://www.yourdolphin.com/dolphin.asp?id=455

Rescheduled due to Iceland volcano related travel interruptions.

“By coordinating IDPF Digital Book 2010 in partnership with BookExpo America everyone with an interest in eBooks can maximize their travel and trade show budgets at one event”, stated Michael Smith, IDPF Executive Director. “IDPF Digital Book 2010 will benefit from the hundreds of CEOs, entrepreneurs, new device manufacturers, and the thousands of publishers and booksellers already coming to Javits to learn about new devices, business models, and best practices to profit from the digital book market”.

The Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities is an organisation of Australian and New Zealand members to facilitate collaboration between organisations and individuals interested in information access issues. The Round Table comprises over 30 organisation members in Australia and New Zealand, including major accessible format producers, libraries, educators and consumer groups. One of the major activities of the Round Table is an annual conference for information sharing and learning. For the first time in 2010, this conference will be held in Auckland, New Zealand. Details are available on the Round Table Conference 2010 website.

The College Committee on Disability Issues (CCDI) invites you to the Deerhurst Conference Centre, Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, for the 22nd Annual conference titled "It All Starts Here - Transitioning from Secondary School to College or University". The conference program will provide a variety of relevant tracks designed to provoke thought and discussion and will highlight transitioning from secondary school to College or University to employment. The conference will offer three days of skill building and partnerships to promote success for students with disabilities. Details are available on the CCDI Conference website.

WSIS Forum 2010 builds upon the tradition of annual WSIS May meetings, and its new format is the result of open consultations with all WSIS Stakeholders. More information is available on the WSIS Forum 2010 website.

This conference provides a unique opportunity to hear about developments in the electronic classroom and educational publishing in a week when Edinburgh is host to a gathering of the world's leading players in curriculum access, the DAISY Consortium (Digital Accessible Information System).

The conference will explore and discuss initiatives that provide accessible curriculum materials from a Scottish and international perspective. Insight Radio, the radio station of RNIB, will broadcast live from the event. All presentations will be recorded and made available to download online.

Details are available on the London Book Fair website.

Registration and Call for Proposals is Now Open for the 26th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii - April 12-April 13, 2010. Details are available on the 26th Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities website.

The 4th European eAccessibility Forum will be held in Paris on April 12, 2010 and will provide an opportunity to hear first-hand about the eAccessibilty of public services from users with disabilities, public organizations and industries. The speakers are specialists involved in organizations representing users and consumers with disabilities, research organizations and companies operating in Europe or worldwide. The conference program is available on the 4th European eAccessibility Forum website.

The Third International Forum on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will take place April 10th – April 11th, 2010, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu, Hawaii. Website: www.pacrim.hawaii.edu. Email cccrocke@hawaii.edu for more information or call 808 956-7539.

In the "AOC: NIMAC, Bookshare and Your Students: What's Next?" webinar on March 31st, 2010, participants will learn about digital accessible books and how to get digital textbooks from the NIMAC (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center). Attendees will also learn about the services and benefits Bookshare offers to educators and qualified students. Presenter: Betsy Burgess, Benetech/Bookshare. More information is available on the ATA Disability Access Community page.

More information is available on the CSUN 2010 website.

This symposium is a collaboration between several national and international agencies working with accessibility related issues. The symposium will be in Japanese. Kobe University will provide translation services. More information is available on the Accessibility Symposium website.

This event will be a cross-disability conference with sessions that will appeal to self-advocates, direct support professionals, families, supervisors, managers, case managers, clinicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, service providers and more. Details are available on the Community Resource Alliance website.

The TOC Conference will examine the implications of emerging trends in digital publishing and share practical examples from those who are already innovating on the digital frontier. More information can be found on the O'Reilly Tools of Change Conference website.

Techshare India 2010 is a disability conference, where technology professionals meet to share experiences, products and research in the field of digital assistive technology. More information is available on the Barrier Break Technologies website. Participation in exhibition and presentations by DAISY Consortium Staff.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) are organizing this Accessibility Workshop at the WIPO Headquarters for staff of the United Nations system and other International Organizations.

The ATIA Conference features the latest products and services, showcasing more than 125 exhibitors in one of the most comprehensive exhibitions in the industry. Meet one-on-one with leading AT suppliers to get hands-on experience with the most up-to-date AT technologies. More information is provided on the ATIA website.

The IADIS WWW/Internet 2009 conference aims to address the main issues of concern within the Internet. Aspects of concern are no longer just technical anymore but other aspects have aroused. This conference aims to cover both technological as well as non-technological issues related to the development of the Internet. Details are available on the IADIS WWW/Internet 2009 conference website.

The 2009 NCTI Technology Innovators Conference, Educational Futures — Powered by Technology, will focus on how learning and assistive technologies can supercharge education for all students. Online registration is available on the 2009 Technology Innovators Conference website.

Details are available on the Internet Governance Forum website.

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) is a scientific as well as educational nonprofit organization concerned with dyslexia and related language and learning difficulties. The IDA Annual Conference focuses on the latest advances in these and related fields. More information is available on the International Dyslexia Association website.

Accessing Higher Ground focuses on the implementation and benefits of Assistive Technology and Accessible Media in the university and college setting. Other topic areas include legal and policy issues, including ADA and 508 compliance. The creation of accessible media and information resources, including Web pages and library resources are a particular focus of the event.More information is available on the Accessing Higher Ground Conference website.

USAB 2009 intends to foster the co-operation between Usabiltiy&HCI and eInclusion. Together with the Austrian Computer Society and the Medical University Graz, the ICCHP organising team will run this conference. More information is available on the USAB 2009 Conference website.

The Braille Conference will offer its registrants a variety of workshops/roundtables and presentations that are interactive, practical, skill-based, research-based and/or theoretical. Proposals from a range of different perspectives can be submitted by February 28, 2009 by filling out and submitting the Workshop and Presentation Proposal Form electronically.

ATIA's 10th anniversary will be celebrated by two ATIA conferences in 2009. ATIA 2009 Chicago will be held in Schaumburg, Illinois USA at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center Details are available on the ATIA Web site.

This year's conference builds on a tradition of providing a comprehensive examination of the most current uses of technology by persons with disabilities and the professionals who work with them. More information is available on the Closing the Gap Conference website.

This year the Frankfurt Book Fair will present a Guest of Honour, you will learn new facts about Chinese literature. More information is available on the Frankfurt Book Fair website.

NISO will be holding its annual business meeting on October 9, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

WORLD 2009 incorporates thematic elements to highlight the reach and role of telecommunications and ICT in areas of societal change such as the digital divide, climate change, and disaster relief. With its focus on development opportunities, the event brings together corporate social responsibility and displays cases of best practices. More information can be found on the ITU Telecom World website.

Meeting of the Board of Directors of the DAISY Consortium.

Details are available on the DAISY International Technical Conference website .

This event features high quality technical XML training for every level of expertise, from the hands-on introduction through to special classes devoted to XSLT, Mobile XML, Open Source Applications, as well as Web 2.0 and Web Services. The Summer School is also a rare opportunity to experience what life is like as a student at one of the world's. oldest Universities. Details are available on the XML Summer School website.

To be held at the British Library, the morning session will focus on the “why” of XML: it can decrease publishers’ production costs and capture more sales. The afternoon session will focus on “how” publishers can effectively implement XML into their production processes. Registration is available from the PLS website.

World Library and Information Congress: 75th IFLA General Conference and Assembly "Libraries create futures: Building on cultural heritage" will take place in Milan, Italy. Details are available on the IFLA website. President of the DAISY Consortium, Hiroshi Kawamura will present on August 27, 2009. "Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities - Using technology to give the past a future: the journey from Braille to XML" is scheduled from 10:45am-12:45pm.

This event is jointly organized by different specialized libraries and organisations from Belgium as well as the Netherlands, with the support of the IFLA Public Libraries Section and Libraries Services to People with Special Needs Section.

The first IEEE conference is dedicated to identifying the next generation of accessibility challenges. This international conference, organized in partnership with IBM, will consist of a plenary session with keynote speakers and panel and working sessions with speakers, panelists and participants from diverse sectors including, academia, industry, government, advocacy groups, and others. This first conference will focus on four areas:

• Universal design and accessibility standards
• Patient-centered collaborative care
• Accessible online workplaces and communities
• Transportation and Travel

More information is available on the IEEE Accessing the Future Conference website.

More than 20 tracks on topics like: Administration, Business, Cloud Computing, Databases, Design and Usability, Desktop Applications, Emerging Topics, Fundamentals, Government, Java, Linux, Mobile, People, Perl, PHP, Programming, Python, Ruby, Security, Ubuntu, and Web Applications. OSCON is the crossroads of all things open source. Registration is available on the O'Reilly Open Source Convention (OSCON) website.

WORLDCOMP'09 is the largest annual gathering of researchers in the fields of computer science, computer engineering and applied computing. Particpants can attend a variety of affiliated research conferences, workshops, and symposiums.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is organizing a Conference on Intellectual Property and Global Challenges, following a proposal by the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) at its 12th session held in Geneva from June 23 to 27, 2008 in the context of discussing a work program for the SCP. The Conference will address issues related to the interface of intellectual property within other areas of public policy and serve as a global forum to discuss issues as well as solutions to some of the major challenges in relation to intellectual property the world faces today. Details are available on the WIPO Conference website.

The second International conference "International Congress VI2009" will be held in France, Coupvray, June 18-20. The first day will feature presentations from people who are blind or have low vision. Presenters from diferent countries will share their personal experiences and the situation of people who are blind or have low vision in their countries. The second day will focus on integration which includes education and employment. The third day presentations will feature access to media and culture for people who are blind or have low vision.

ELPUB 2009 - 13th International Conference on Electronic Publishing, covers topics from Rethinking Electronic Publishing to Innovation in Communication Paradigms and Technologies. The ELPUB 2009 conference will focus on key issues in e-communications, exploring dissemination channels, business models, technologies, methods and concepts. Details are available on the ELPUB 2009 website.

General Meeting of the DAISY Consortium.

The main DSAI objective this year is to contribute to the European e-Inclusion initiative with innovations on Informaion and Communication Technology-based products and services for people with special needs and promotion of accessible technology. Read more on the DSAI 2009 Conference website.

The Korean Braille Library (KBLL) will host a conference, "2009 New age of DAISY" which will be held at the Seoul Olympic Parktel.

Meeting of the Board of Directors of the DAISY Consortium.

ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP announced that registration is now open for the WSIS Forum 2009. This event builds upon the tradition of annual WSIS May meetings, and its new format is a result of the open consultations with all WSIS Stakeholders. More information is available on the WSIS website.

DAISY Consortium, Thailand Association of the Blind and other co-host organizations will organize the 2nd International Conference on Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities on May 12-13, 2009 in Phuket, Thailand. This conference is the follow up meeting of International Conference on Tsunami Preparedness of Persons with Disabilities on January 11-12, 2007. Tentative program is now available on the Disability Information Resources website. Registration closes May 4th, 2009.

An eBook Stimulus Plan for Publishing is the theme for Digital Book 2009. This conference focuses on the eBook Business, Successful Business Models and Connecting with the Consumer. This one-day conference plus 1/2 day Workshop is part of the IDPF’s spring educational series. More informatuion in available on the Digital Book 2009 Conference website.

The Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities has become one of the top international conferences for persons with disabilities, educators, researchers, service providers, policymakers, community leaders, advocates, and nationally recognized professionals in the various disciplines in the field of disabilities. Topic areas range from Disability Studies and Culture, Indigenous Issues/Native Peoples to , Universal Design for Learning and Living. Participants will be able to attend the 2nd Annual International Forum: Securing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Eradicating Poverty. Details are available on the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disabilities website.

The W3C 2009 Web Accessibility (W4A, April 20-21) and World Wide Web Conferences (WWW2009, April 20-24) are co-located in Madrid.

Please check the separate conference Web sites for information and upcoming paper submission deadlines.

This training is intended for Alternate Media Specialists and High Tech Center Specialists who want to learn how to convert electronic text from Microsoft Word documents to DAISY Talking Books.

This two-day workshop will introduce participants to the production of books in DAISY format and the use of a variety of DAISY readers. More information is available at the HTCTU website. If you have any questions, please call the HTCTU at (408) 996-4636.

This is the fifth international conference on inclusive design. The call for papers has been announced. Full details are available on the Include 2009 Web site.

The 3d European eAccessibility Forum will focus on the application of mobile technologies to enhance inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. Mobile communications such as mobile GPS systems can assist people with disabilities to find their way in an urban surrounding, or aid a person with motor impairment in reading a book on a Personal Digital Assistant installed on his/her wheelchair. Visit the 3d European eAccessibility Forum website for more information.

The International Conference on Assistive Technology and Persons with Disabilities provides a setting for researchers, practitioners, exhibitors, end users and other participants to share knowledge and best practices in the field of assistive technology. In 2008, the conference drew more than 4,500 people including 360 international participants. Please visit the CSUN website for more information.

Organized by DAISY Lanka Foundation. This training features full text full audio and NCX only DAISY Digital Talking Book production using open source tools. It is part of the ICTA Sri Lanka funded project for production of DAISY Digital Books in Sinhala Language.

The 2009 Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute, organized by the American Foundation for the Blind, will bring together experts and beginners across the vision loss field for a debate on improving opportunities for people with vision loss. Attendees will meet new policy leaders and discuss pressing issues including accessibility of new technologies as well as changes needed to guarantee services that would make life, work and school easier for people with vision loss. Details are available on the Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute website.

The third O'Reilly TOC Conference will look at new technologies and emerging trends for digital publishing. Complete details are available on the O'Reilly 2009 TOC Conference Web site.

"International Symposium on Community-based Inclusive Information Support for Persons with Disabilities" will be held at Kyoto International Community House. Details are available in the ATDO International Symposium program.

"International Seminar on Textbooks in DAISY Format - Future of the Textbooks for All" will be held at Kyoto International Community House. Hosts: JSRPD and ATDO. Details are available in the "International Seminar on Textbooks in DAISY Format" program.

Meeting of the Board of Directors of the DAISY Consortium.

EASI 4-week Webinar series.

Week 1: What is the DAISY Standard and what are DAISY hardware or software players? More information is available on the EASI website.

ATIA's 10th anniversary will be celebrated by two ATIA conferences in 2009. ATIA 2009 Orlando will be held in Orlando Florida, USA, at the Caribe Royale All-Suites Resort and Convention Center. Details are available on the ATIA Web site.

DAISY South Africa launch, sponsored by Microsoft, will take place on December 8, 2008 in Johannesburg. In alignment with the international DAISY Consortium, DAISY South Africa key objectives include developing and promoting international standards and technologies which enable equal access to information and knowledge by people with print disabilities and which also benefit the wider community.

The Tactile Graphics 2008 Conference is being hosted by RNIB Centre for Accessible Information, with pre-conference workshops to be held December 3, and two full days of presentations scheduled for December 4 and 5.

Registration is open. The reduced early bird booking rate is available until September 14. Conference registration closes November 10.

Full details are available on the Tactile Graphics 2008 Conference home page.

Details including the programme are available on the ITU website.

Full details, including the draft program, are available on the 25 Years Independent Living in Sweden Conference Web site.

The 2008 e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference is organized by the European Commission and hosted by Austrian Government, in cooperation with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. E-Inclusion, or digital inclusion, is about mobilizing information and communication technologies (ICT) to combat social or economic exclusion. Digital inclusion also involves the usability of ICT for all or e-accessibility. Conference topics range from ‘Ageing Well in the Information Society’ and ‘Information Literacy for Life’ to ‘Investing in e-Inclusion’. Details are available on the e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference and Expo website.

This event organized by the centre for Research, Development and Application of Technologies for the Blind (CIDAT)of ONCE will bring together users, developers, manufacturers and distributors of software, hardware and other assistive devices. Details are available on the TifloInnova 2008 website.

The 2008 Network of Autism Training and Technical Assistance Programs (NATTAP) Conference will take place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The conference will present an overview of current systems models for addressing the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It will also provide a forum for the continued exchange of ideas and promising practices. Details are available on the NATTAP website.

This year’s event will be an exciting opportunity for students, consumer advocates, service providers, employers and all others interested in exploring key issues of equal access to post-secondary education and employment for students and graduates with disabilities.

Details are on the NEADS Conference Web site.

The 11th Annual Accessing Higher Ground: Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference for Education, for Businesses, for Web and Media Designers, in collaboration with AHEAD, EASI, ATHEN and CSUN ATACP, will be held November 11 - 14, 2008 at the University of Colorado - Boulder.

Accessing Higher Ground focuses on the implementation and benefits of Assistive Technology in the university and college setting for sensory, physical and learning disabilities. Other topics include legal and policy issues, including ADA and 508 compliance, and making campus media and information resources - including Web pages and library resources - accessible.

The Conference be comprised of dozens of workshops, lectures, and hands-on experience in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. The Keynote Speaker will be Jason Regier, President, Denver Harlequins, Wheelchair Rugby.

Visit the Accessing Higher Ground Conference Web site for registration and additional information.

The conference is jointly hosted by the EUAIN Network, the ProAccess Project and the Federation of Dutch Publishers and is held as part of the celebrations of Amsterdam as UNESCO World Book Capital 2008.

Details are on the ACP ’08 Conference Web site.

Meeting of the Board of Directors of the DAISY Consortium.

The International Dyslexia Association promotes literacy through research, education and advocacy. The IDA 59th Annual Conference brings together educators and other professionals dedicated to the identification and intervention of dyslexia and other reading problems.

Attendees will be able to gain hands-on experience with assistive technology, including a demonstration of digital text, examples of how assistive technology can benefit students with dyslexia in the classroom, and ways to measure its success. Details are available on the IDA conference website.

The AES Convention has been the largest gathering of audio professionals and enthusiasts on the globe for more than 60 years, attracting delegates from over 100 countries worldwide. The 125th AES Convention will feature its prized papers, workshops, tutorials and special events which explore and explain the latest technological advances in the audio world. From live sound, game audio, macro-machining, low bit-rate audio coding, multichannel audio, information appliances and web-based applications, to the latest in practical aspects of the pro audio world, the AES Convention will be the source for the most up-to-date information currently available. Details are on the AES Convention website.

The O'Reilly 2009 TOC (February 9 to 11, 2009) call for participation is open. The deadline for proposals is August 25, 2008. Details are provided on the O'Reilly 2009 TOC Conference Call for Participation Web site page.

Details about Registration, the Conference, and the Exhibition for the 74th IFLA General Conference and Council: "Libraries without borders: Navigating towards global understanding" are provided on the 74th IFLA General Conference and Council Web site.

(IFLA/LBS, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, Section of Libraries for the Blind, and the DAISY Consortium have partnered, forming the Global Library Initiative Steering Committee.)

Tuesday August 7, 2:00 p.m. (14:00) Eastern Standard Time
Presenter: George Kerscher
Open to the public.
Additional information and links in the news area of the DAISY Web site.

Wednesday July 23, 2:00 p.m. (14:00) Eastern Standard Time
Presenter: Norm Coombs
Open to the public.
Additional information and links in the news area of the DAISY Web site.

The 10th OSCON Convention focuses on open source technology and includes over 400 sessions dealing with Administration, Business, Databases, Emerging Topics, Java, Linux, Mobile, People, Perl, PHP, Programming, Python, Ruby, Security, Web Applications, and much more. Registration opens in March 2008. The Call for Papers is open, and proposals are due by February 4, 2008.

ICCHP will be held July 9-11, 2008, the University of Linz in Austria. This conference provides a unique platform for researchers, practitioners and experts to present and discuss their work in all aspects of information, communication and assistive technology for people with disabilities and those who are elderly or have learning difficulties. ICCHP supports the advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Assistive Technologies (AT) for these identified groups. The Pre-Conference will be held July 7-8, 2008. Full details are provided on the ICCHP Web site.

Go to www.ala.org to learn more.

Further information is available on the AAUP Web site.

The Text and Academic Authors Association (TAA) 2008 Conference on Text and Academic Authoring will be held at Harrah's Las Vegas, Nevada, June 19-21.
Visit the 2008 TAA Conference Web site.

June 2008 General meeting of the DAISY Consortium. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

This conference will be held the day prior to the 2008 DAISY General Meeting. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

June 2008 meeting of the DAISY Consortium Board of Directors.

SightCity in Frankfurt is the biggest exhibition for aids for individuals who are blind or who have a visual disability in Germany. The Exhibitor Catalogue for the SightCity 2008 will be available in the DAISY format. The Fair will be held at the Sheraton Airport, Frankfurt. Full details about the event are provided on the SightCity Web site.

The focus of this workshop is preparation of content on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment information in eleven South African official languages. Presentation of "Save as DAISY XML" will be included.

At the invitation of the China Braille Press, DAISY staff and friends will cover major DAISY concepts and projects during the 2-day event in Beijing.

Organized by DAISY President, Hiroshi Kawamura, confirmed participants include:

• Judy Brewer, WAI/W3C Program Director, USA, (April 25th only) will give a lecture on Web Accessibility Guidelines.
• Reed Schaffner, Microsoft Office Team, USA, will talk about “Word and Save as DAISY XML”.
• Monthian Buntan, Senator of the Parliament, President of Thailand Association of the Blind, (26th only) will discuss on the UN Convention on the Rights of PWD and DAISY.
• Dipendra Manocha, DAISY for All Assistant Project Manager, India, will cover DFA project achievements.
• Misako Nomura, JSRPD Information Center, Japan, will talk about free production software tools and her initiatives on DAISY multimedia publications, including easy-to-read books for persons with learning disabilities.
• Mayu Hamada, Assistive Technology Development Organization will talk about DAISY for persons with cognitive disabilities.
• Hiroshi Kawamura, President of the DAISY Consortium, Japan, will talk about “DAISY, the best way to read and publish”.
• Kathy Kahl, Communications System Analyst, DAISY Consortium, will guide a tour through DAISY activities, projects, and the DAISY Web site.

At least 2 DAISY vendors will demonstrate DAISY products. Sessions will also include problem solving and demonstrations of Chinese DAISY titles.

Web 2.0 Expo returns for a second year to further explore the power and the impact of Web 2.0 on business, technology, and culture.

The WWW2008 Conference will be held April 21 - 25, 2008 in Beijing, China.

The World Wide Web Conference is a global event bringing together key researchers, innovators, decision-makers, technologists, businesses, and standards bodies working to shape the Web. Since its inception in 1994, the WWW conference has become the annual venue for international discussions and debate on the future evolution of the Web.

The Fifth International Cross-Disciplinary Conference on Web Accessibility (W4A 2008) is co-located with the Seventeenth International World Wide Web Conference (WWW2008), in Beijing, China. Registration is open. Full details are available on the W4A Web site.

"The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is one of the fastest human rights treaties ever adopted. It was developed with the active participation of country delegations and NGOs representing persons with disabilities, includes a number of detailed mandates related to accessible and assistive Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)."

The Objectives of the Forum are:

• "Review existing and in-progress technology standards and standardization of product development methodologies.
• Discuss the role of public policy and procurement in support of standardization and the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Identify follow-up actions to facilitate the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."

Further information is available on the International Telecommunication Union Web site.

The results of the Requirements Gathering process and planning the technical work that is required for the next version of the DAISY Standard, will be covered at the face-to-face meeting of the Z39.86 Advisory Committee.

Posted Minutes for the Z39.86 Advisory Committee.

The Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities facilitates and influences the production and use of quality alternative formats for people with print disabilities by optimising the evolving Round Table body of knowledge. The 2008 National Conference will be held April 11 to 15 in Melbourne Australia. The closing date for submission of abstracts is Friday October 5, 2007.

Full details are available on the Round Table Web site.

This conference is jointly organized with the Qatar Foundation in close cooperation with Bibliotheca Alexandrina, "Global Knowledge Partnership" and Oman's Knowledge Oasis. The conference is aimed at bringing together:

• Policy makers
• Experts in the fields of knowledge management and innovation\technology parks
• Representatives of the private sector and donor organizations including development banks to share views and experiences and to map such experiences for the benefit of developing countries

One of UNESCO's main initiatives, as a follow-up to the WSIS process, is to operationalize its concept of knowledge societies. The conference will:

• Raise awareness on how the ICT-based knowledge park experience could help in accelerating development
• Review best practices in establishing and managing "ICT-based knowledge parks" in developed countries, with a special interest in leveraging their potential for developing countries
• Generate partnerships between governments, civil society and the private sector for establishing a strategy to leverage modern ICTs and the knowledge park experience

The event will serve as a platform to forge concrete partnerships for the establishment of knowledge parks/incubators around the world.

The "concept paper" and documents elaborate the background, objectives and focus areas of the event besides answering some key questions about this event.

It is important to note that registration for this conference is free of charge and that UNESCO, in collaboration with Qatar's Foundation, will offer preferential lodging rates to all participants.

Additional details including registration information are available on the Conference Web site. The Conference Web site will be updated regularly and will in the near future give access to the conference agenda, exhibitors and other related information.

For further information, please contact Mr Tarek Shawki, UNESCO, Communication and Information Sector (tel +33.1.45.68.42.82; t.shawki@unesco.org).

The CSUN Conference is the longest-running and largest annual university sponsored conference on technology and persons with disabilities. In 2008 it will be held March 10-15 in Los Angeles, California.

Information about the CSUN Conference is provided on the CSUN Home Page.

The DAISY Consortium Board of Directors and members of IFLA LBS will meet in February 2008 to discuss major issues such as the "global library" and copyright.

Theme: utilizing networking, collaboration and co-operation to transition to a world where accessible information is the norm. This seminar is arranged by IFLA Libraries for the Blind Section and the DAISY Consortium in cooperation with the Croatian Library for the Blind. Target group: Libraries and organizations providing services for individuals who are blind and print handicapped in Eastern Europe.

Venue: Hotel Sheraton, Zagreb

Accommodation: Hotel Sheraton, Zagreb

Alternative Hotel Option: Hotel Central, Zagreb

On-line registration for the Hotel Sheraton in Zagreb for the IFLA/DAISY Seminar is now available. A personalized Web site for PUTTING LIBRARIES FOR THE BLIND AND PRINT DISABLED ON THE AGENDA, February 27, 2008 - February 28, 2008, has been created. Guests can access the site to learn more about the event and to book, modify, or cancel a reservation from December 04, 2007 to March 02, 2008.

Participants can register at the Sheraton hotel at: PUTTING LIBRARIES FOR THE BLIND AND PRINT DISABLED ON THE AGENDA on the Sheraton Web site.

More information and the final programme will be published on the IFLA Web site, the DAISY Web site, and the Croatian Library for the Blind Web site.

February 2008 meeting of the DAISY Consortium Board of Directors.

"The second annual O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing (TOC) Conference considers what's at stake for the future of publishing for people who are passionate about books and book publishing." See the O'Reilly TOC Web site for full details.

This is the first accessibility conference and exhibition in India that will highlight the needs of people with disabilities. It will showcase the role of technology in the lives of people with disabilities, looking not just at web accessibility but also software accessibility, and accessibility on the move for mobiles and PDAs. In addition, Techshare India will also highlight the importance of implementing accessibility standards and complying with different accessibility laws. Full details, including the Call for Papers, details about paper submission and registration are available on the Techshare India Web site.

ATIA 2008 (Assistive Technology Industry Association) showcases excellence in assistive technology. It serves as a leading conference for the Assistive Technology community offering attendees the opportunity to participate in discussions with industry experts, learn about new technologies, best practices, and a host of specialized services. Assistive Technology products and technologies will be represented in various presentations, demonstrations and/or exhibits.

Additional information is available on the ATIA 2008 Web site.

This conference will be held in Paris on January 28, 2008. It is organised by BrailleNet and Cité des sciences et de l'industrie, and is the 2nd European eAccessibility Forum. The purpose is to demonstrate that the different stakeholders involved in the publishing chain have convergent interests in the invention of sustainable solutions making publishable contents accessible to all readers, in different formats, supported by different platforms including those used by people with disabilities. The invited speakers will be representing organisations of users with disabilities, research labs and publishing companies. Concrete case studies will be discussed. There will be an opportunity to hear first-hand about concrete experiences promoting good practices in Europe and worldwide, and initiatives supporting eInclusion strategies and promoting an equal right to read for all citizens.

Conference topics

• Readers' needs and experiences
• Services supporting equal access to reading
• The Accessible Publishing chain
• Copyright versus accessibility
• Digital Libraries for All
• Good Practices worldwide

More information is provided on the BrailleNet Web Site. The programme is available in English and in French.

The Government of Brazil will host the second Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting. It will take place in Rio de Janeiro on 12 - 15 November 2007. IGF supports the United Nations Secretary-General in carrying out the mandate from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) with regard to convening a new forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue.

Details and logistics are available at The Internet Governance Forum Web site.

ASSETS-2007 ACM SIGACCESS Conference

The ASSETS series of conferences explores the potential for Computer and Information Technologies to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and those around them. ASSETS is the premier forum for presenting innovative research on the design and use of both mainstream and specialized assistive technologies to support people with disabilities. Since 1994, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and its SIGACCESS Special Interest Group on accessible Computing has sponsored the ASSETS series of conferences. This year's conference includes formal paper sessions, demonstrations, posters, a doctoral consortium, and a student research competition. The single track and friendly atmosphere make ASSETS the ideal venue to meet researchers, practitioners, developers and policymakers to exchange ideas, share information, and make new contacts.

September 19 and 20, 2007. Given the widespread adoption of ICT within the publishing and content producing industries, there is a general interest in the creation and provision of well-formatted digital documents. For those people who are dependent on accessible information, this interest is of central importance, and it is this convergence of interests that prompted the establishment of the EUAIN Network and ProAccess project.

The ACP 07 Conference examines key issues relating to accessible content processing within both the private and public sectors. This event should be of interest to elearning providers, editors in publishing houses, publishers, research departments and all those involved in accessible content processing.

The 73rd IFLA Annual Conference and Council will be held August 19-23 2007 in Durban, South Africa. An abstract of a proposed paper is required by 31 October 2006. Subject: Best practice in library services for print disabled children

See www.ahead.org/training/conference/index.htm for more information.

See www.ala.org for more information.

The IDPF announced Digital Book 2007 which will present ground-breaking electronic reading technologies.

AFB's Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute will be held in Dallas, Texas, from March 23-25, 2007 at the Dallas-Addison Marriott Quorum by The Galleria. The AFB Access Awards will be presented on March 23rd at AFB's Center on Vision Loss.

Advisory Committee Members and invited experts will attend. The agenda includes Goals, Committee Role and Status, Technologies, Strategies for Future Directions, and Implementation Approaches.

The 8th ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2006) will be held this year from the 23rd to 25th of October, at the Embassy Suites downtown in Portland Oregon. The on-line paper submission system and on-line registration system for ASSETS 2006 are available at: http://www.acm.org/sigaccess/assets06/

The 24th Annual Closing The Gap Conference will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota October 17-21.

To learn more about this conference, visit www.ahead.org/training/conference/index.htm.

The 12th World Conference of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The theme of the conference will be "Equality = e-Quality" Equal Access to the Information Society Depending on the Quality of ICT and AT.

The conference will be held July 12-14, 2006 at University of Linz, Austria and the Pre-Conference, July 10-11, 2006.

CALL FOR PAPERS
Please reply no later than January 25, 2006

For more information, go to http://www.icchp.org/

The ALA Web site at www.ala.org provides more information.

An international technical conference hosted by the Swedish DAISY Consortium and TPB, the Swedish Library of Talking books and Braille

A comprehensive, international conference, where all technologies across all ages; disabilities; levels of education and training; employment; and independent living are addressed. Contact: Center on Disabilities, CSUN Phone: (818) 677-2578, E-Mail: ctrdis@csun.edu, URL: http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/index.htm.

To learn more about this conference, please go to http://www.cesweb.org.

This Seybold conference is called an XML Summit.

**Techshare 2005 Call for Papers Announcement

Techshare 2005 will be held: 17 - 18 November at Jury's Inn, Birmingham, UK.

Techshare is RNIB's flagship technology conference which will be held November 17-18, 2005 at Jury's Inn, Birmingham, UK. Pre-Conference workshops will be held on November 16, 2005 at RNIB Birmingham.

XML Conference & Exposition 2005 is the event where management and technical professionals from business, government, and other organizations gather to review the latest technologies, applications and services that exist for the XML community.

To learn more about the conference, visit the organization's Web site at http://2005.xmlconference.org for more details.

Visit http://www.interdys.org/servlet/compose?section_id=7&page_id=213 for more information.

This is an international conference.

A Preconference will be held from October 18-19, 2005. For more information, visit www.closingthegap.com.

The deadline for registration is January 31, 2005. Korea will be the guest of honor. Visit www.frankfurt-book-fair.com for more details.

Go to www.aes.org/events/119/ to learn more.

More information about this conference may be found by visiting www.aaate2005.com/. The conference is sponsored by The Association for the advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE).

See www.seybold365.com/chicago/ for more information about the DAM Summit.

Further information on the conference and submissions is available on: www.accessinthedigitalworld.org.

For more information about this conference, please go to www.ifla.org.

This will be a joint conference including both the Accessible libraries - Libraries for the Blind Section and Libraries serving Disadvantaged People Section. Visit www.ifla.org for details.

For more information, please visit: www.ahead.org/training/conference/index.htm.

For more information, visit http://www.mulberrytech.com/Extreme/.

Of particular interest may be a thematic session entitled: Non-Visual Access of Complex Document Components. Other sessions may also be relevant.

See www.qac.ac.uk/sightvillage/6-1.html for further details.

See www.ala.org for details.