Get Involved

Welcome to the Web site of the DAISY Consortium where you will learn about the exciting digital standard that permits everyone, but especially people who are blind, visually impaired, or have another print disability, to experience a better way to read.

The DAISY specifications are already transforming the reading and learning experiences of tens of thousands of people who have a print disability in some 40 countries around the world. DAISY is the acronym for Digital Accessible Information SYstem, and members of the DAISY Consortium are dedicated to making DAISY books accessible worldwide. Why not join us?

Want to be Part of the Magic that is DAISY?

If your goal is to make accessible reading materials available to individuals who cannot use print effectively, adopt the DAISY standard for creating the most accessible books possible. Explore our site to learn more about:

• How to join us
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
• Members around the world (some near you)
• News about what the Consortium and its Members and Friends are doing
• Current methods for How to Donate
• How to get on our General Information List

If you have already embraced the DAISY standard as a Member or Friend of the Consortium, take a look around to see what's new, or login to the site to download tools, explore training materials or obtain other information provided just for you.

Are You Aware of the Limitations of Electronic Text and Audio Today

Typical audio talking books do not allow the reader to move through the book easily. You can listen from beginning to end, but not much more, resulting in frustration and wasted time.

While it is possible to navigate through some electronic text files, this option may or may not be accessible to everyone. Electronic content that lacks navigation makes reading slower and less efficient than it has to be.

Navigable DAISY content that has electronic text available, either with or without audio, may permit readers to examine the spelling of words, or search the text, using a software player on a computer. When DAISY full text is available, some software players also offer users the ability to display and highlight the text of the book on the screen.

A Better Way to Read

DAISY books can increase reading speed and improve reading efficiency. With the press of a button, you can jump to the chapter you need. . . faster than the eyes can skim. It's like magic.

Why Choose DAISY

The DAISY standard provides flexibility and options never before possible. You can listen to a DAISY book on a computer while reading the text with a braille display. Or you can listen to a DAISY audio book with a special stand-alone player at home or when travelling.

There are many kinds of DAISY books, ranging from audio only to text only, with full text and full audio as the fullest and richest reading experience for the end-user. It is even possible to produce hard-copy braille from a full text DAISY book.

Although the DAISY standard was developed with books and people with print disabilities in mind, we can envision many applications for it:

• Imagine lectures that are available as audio and text files simultaneously.
• How about emergency preparedness materials in audio format as well as available to all who really need them.
• Or, think about how synchronized text and audio would be valuable in teaching literacy or a foreign language.

Learn, support, and embrace the huge benefits of this technology: GO DAISY !