Print Disabilities

A broad term encompassing any condition that prevents a person from effectively reading standard printed text. Print disabilities include blindness and low vision, but also extend to learning disabilities such as dyslexia, physical disabilities that prevent holding or manipulating printed materials, and cognitive disabilities that affect reading comprehension. The term is significant in accessibility because it defines the user population for alternative format materials including Braille, audio, large print, and digital text with assistive technology support. Many copyright exemptions and accessibility regulations (such as the Marrakesh Treaty) use print disability as the qualifying criterion for providing accessible copies of published works.