James Taylor (JT): Tell us about Fundação Dorina Nowill para Cegos in a few words.
Alexandre Muck: [Dorina Nowill] is one of Brazil’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the inclusion of blind and visually impaired people. Celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, the Foundation has spent eight decades promoting accessibility, education, rehabilitation, employability, and access to information through Braille, audio, and digital formats, helping thousands of people achieve greater independence and social inclusion.
JT: Have you noticed a change in the way the book sector engages with accessibility?
Yes, absolutely. Over the past few years, we have seen a very positive shift in the way the publishing sector approaches accessibility. The issue is no longer viewed merely as a legal obligation or an occasional initiative; instead, it has become part of broader strategic discussions about inclusion, diversity, and expanding access to reading.
This progress is the result of several factors. Public awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities has grown significantly, as has the understanding that reading and access to information are fundamental rights that should be available to everyone. In addition, important milestones such as the Marrakesh Treaty and the strengthening of inclusion-focused legislation have helped drive this movement and encourage more accessible practices throughout the entire book production chain.
In Brazil, a particularly relevant example of this transformation can be seen in the Programa Nacional do Livro Didático (PNLD). Over the years, the program has expanded its focus on accessibility, both through the production of braille textbooks and through the incorporation of accessible digital formats. This has represented an important step forward in ensuring that students with visual impairments have access to the same educational content as their peers, promoting greater equity in the school environment. In addition, PNLD has helped disseminate accessibility standards and requirements across the publishing market, positively influencing other segments of book production as well.
Another fundamental aspect is the advancement of technology. Today, digital tools make it possible to produce and distribute accessible content much more efficiently than in the past. Digital formats compatible with screen readers and braille displays, accessible EPUB files, audiobooks, braille and print editions, and other solutions have become part of the reality of a growing number of publishers.
In this context, Fundação Dorina Nowill para Cegos has actively followed and contributed to this evolution. For decades, we have worked to promote access to reading and education for people with visual impairments, whether through the production of accessible books, support for educational programs, dissemination of technical knowledge, or collaboration with publishers, institutions, and public agencies. This long-standing experience allows us to clearly perceive the sector’s growing maturity and the increasing commitment of the different stakeholders involved in building a more inclusive publishing market.
Although important challenges still remain, especially with regard to expanding the availability of accessible content and consolidating accessible practices throughout the industry, the current landscape is far more promising than it was a few years ago. Today, there is a growing understanding that accessibility does not benefit only a specific group of readers; rather, it strengthens the very social role of books as instruments of education, culture, and citizenship for everyone.
JT: How has the work of the Dorina Nowill Foundation evolved over the years?
Over its 80-year history, Fundação Dorina’s journey has been marked by a constant pursuit of innovation and excellence in order to respond to the needs of people with visual impairments and keep pace with changes in society, technology, and the publishing market. Over the years, we have significantly expanded our scope of work, evolving from an organization recognized for the production of braille books into a national and international reference in accessibility, inclusion, and access to information.
This evolution has been built through continuous investments in technology, infrastructure, and professional training. We have always believed that innovation is an essential tool for expanding opportunities and ensuring that reading, education, and culture are within everyone’s reach. For this reason, we are constantly working to modernize our processes, develop new solutions, and anticipate the demands of an ever-changing landscape.
We have the largest braille book production capacity in Latin America, the result of investments in specialized machinery, highly efficient processes, and highly qualified teams. This structure allows us to support large-scale programs such as Brazil’s Programa Nacional do Livro Didático (PNLD), ensuring that thousands of students with visual impairments have access to the same educational content as their peers, in accessible, high-quality formats.
At the same time, we have expanded our work beyond braille. Recognizing the potential of digital technologies to promote inclusion, we have invested in the production of accessible digital books, the adaptation of educational and cultural content, and state-of-the-art studios for recording audiobooks, narrated content, and audiovisual accessibility resources. We have also developed initiatives focused on training and knowledge-sharing through our accessible education platform, extending the reach of content and capacity-building opportunities to different audiences.
Another major strength of the Foundation lies in its human capital. We rely on highly specialized multidisciplinary teams that bring together expertise in accessibility, accessible publishing production, audio description, braille proofreading, content adaptation, and consulting. This accumulated knowledge, built over decades, is one of the pillars of the quality, credibility, and impact of our work.
At the same time, the Foundation has established itself as an important technical reference for the publishing market, educational institutions, companies, and government bodies. We actively participate in discussions on public policies, technical standards, and accessibility best practices, contributing to the development of solutions that promote a more inclusive society. Today, we are frequently invited to share knowledge, guide projects, and support initiatives aimed at making products, services, and content more accessible.
More than simply keeping pace with change, Fundação Dorina has worked to drive it forward. Our commitment remains the same as the one that inspired its creation: to ensure that reading, education, culture, and information are accessible to everyone.
Dona Dorina’s legacy remains present at every stage of this journey. As she used to say, “On the staircase of life, each step is made of books.” It is this conviction in the transformative power of reading that drives us to continue investing in innovation, accessibility, and inclusion, expanding opportunities and helping to build a fairer and truly accessible society for all.
JT: Are there any particular challenges you face in your work?