Contact Details

Address: Victoria Park (Main Centre)
61 Kitchener Avenue
Victoria Park 6100

Tel: (08) 9311 8202 or
Toll Free: 1800 847 466
Fax: (08) 9361 8696
Send Us An Email

 

Welcome to the Association for the Blind of WA – Guide Dogs WA

Print Materials

In Australia, it's estimated that as many as 1.3 million people have a print disability. People with a print disability can't read print, either because of vision impairment, a physical, perceptual or intellectual disability, poor literacy or language problems.

Most organisations put great effort into making sure that their communications are carefully worded, well designed and appropriate for their market. However, many don't take into account the fact that 5% of the population can't read their material at all.

It's up to government agencies, business, and community groups to ensure that Australians with a print disability are not being discriminated against through non-provision of information in a suitable format.

Producing publications in alternative formats gives people with a print disability the opportunity to participate more fully in mainstream Australian life.

Print Guidelines

The following guidelines will help you prepare printed materials for consumers who are vision impaired.

Contrast

A strong contrast between type and paper is essential. Use black type on white, yellow or very pale paper. Only use tints behind type if the tint is very pale.

Colour

Black ink is preferred. However, other dark print may be used, for example greens, blues, reds or browns, if the ink is dark and the background is very pale. Do not use yellows or pale colours on coloured backgrounds, for example grey on blue. Type should only be reversed if the type size is large and thick, for example white type on a black or dark coloured background.

Font Size

The choice of choice of typeface can make a significant difference. Sans serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica are the most accessible. Wherever possible use a standard print size of 12 point. For large print text the recommended size is 18 point.

It can be appropriate to use different typefaces for some applications, like an Excel spreadsheet, posters or displays. Very thin, light, or bizarre typefaces make legibility difficult for people with vision impairment.

Lay information out simply and clearly:

  • Leave space between paragraphs
  • Don't cram the page - use a second page when needed
  • Have generous margins
  • Use a large margin or a vertical rule (for large print) between columns
  • Use bold for headings
  • Do not underline
  • Use italics sparingly
  • Use hyphenation sparingly.

Alternative / Accessible Information

Large Print

Large Print is useful for people who have some vision but cannot read standard size print, particularly for reference material, timetables, etc. Large print requires no special skills or equipment to access, and can benefit even people with slight vision impairments.

Digital format

Text materials in digital format can be accessed by anyone whose computer has large screen text, voice or Braille output. Digital format is one of the easiest, cheapest and most effective ways to provide information to people who are blind or vision impaired.

Audio

Audio is suitable for nearly all people with a print disability. Audio material can be produced using a range of recording equipment. If you're recording a publication intended for wide distribution, for best results material should be recorded on quality equipment, under studio conditions, and by organisations that are familiar with the particular requirements of recording print text in a useful and meaningful way for people with a print disability.

Braille

The proportion of people with a print disability who can read Braille is relatively small. For those who can read it, however, Braille is the ideal print-alternative, especially for material that will be referred to constantly (such as cookbooks or discussion papers) or which contain forms, diagrams, or other visually presented information. Braille is the most difficult alternative format to produce, and requires the use of specialised equipment and knowledge of the Braille Code.

Tactile Graphics

Tactile graphics are used to convey visually presented information such as diagrams, or maps.

Accessible Media Production

Our accessible media production teams transcribe a range of items including computer files, printed books or existing recordings (including analogue tapes) into Braille and/or audio formats on request.

We convert items for our own individual clients as well as many different customers including businesses, community groups, government departments, educational institutions and members of the public.

Items commonly requested include:

  • Texts and examination papers for tertiary students
  • Government reports
  • Cookery books
  • Vocational materials
  • Bus and train timetables
  • Greeting cards for a friend or relative who is vision impaired
  • Children's story books.

We also produce tactile maps, diagrams, and adhesive Braille labels, which are applied to household items and also placed over the print in children's books to enable both people who are sighted and those with a vision impairment to read a book together.

To learn how to produce electronic documents for effective accessible format conversion, download our Accessible Electronic Documents Factsheet [doc, 38kb].

Accessible Media Production Prices

Charges for accessible media production apply to anyone who is not a client of the Association.

Prices are in Australian Dollars, based on the number of print pages, the format in which we receive the materials and whether the complexity of the content requires special handling. Technical materials such as mathematics and chemistry and items in languages other than English require special handling.

Charge indications are based on standard A4 print pages in 12 point font, single line spacing. Essentially, the more automated the process, the lower the price. For example, the most cost-effective option is to provide the item for conversion in editable electronic format for output in electronic format.

Source material

  • Editable electronic format e.g. Microsoft Word, OpenOffice, RTF, Text - from $1.50 per print page
  • Non-editable electronic format e.g. PDF - from $3.00 per print page
  • Unbound hardcopy material - from $3.00 per print page
  • Bound hardcopy material - from $6.00 per print page
  • Audio format e.g. cassette or CD - from $20.00 per cassette or CD.

Required format

Masters
  • Braille - from $11.50 per print page
  • Audio
    • Synthetic voice - from $1.50 per print page
    • Human narrated voice
      • Audio only - from $13.00 per print page
      • Full text / audio - from $26.00 per print page
  • Remastering from cassette or CD to DAISY
    • Navigation by tape or tape side - from $20.00 per cassette or CD
    • Navigation by chapter or other points - from $75.00 per cassette or CD
Copies
  • Braille - per print page $5.00
  • Audio - per disk $3.00
Delivery method
  • Electronic master available via our FTP site - no additional charge
  • Physical master posted to you - no additional charge.

Please use our Job Estimator for an estimate to convert your work. We will contact you to further discuss and arrange the service.