Centre for Equitable Library Access - CELA

Brampton Library provides access to accessible collections in partnership with the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA). 

Your access to the CELA collection includes:

• More than 1 million titles in accessible formats, including DAISY audio, DAISY text, Braille, PrintBraille, eBraille, ePub, Word, and HTML.
• Borrow fiction and non-fiction, award winners, best sellers, and favourites for kids and teens, along with newspapers and magazines.
• Materials available for download (online) or home delivery by mail.
• Materials in English and French, with expanding access to other languages.

Eligibility

The CELA collection is available to library customers with a print disability.  A print disability is a learning, physical, or visual disability that prevents a person from reading conventional print. Print disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Learning disability: An impairment relating to comprehension.

• Physical disability: The inability to hold or manipulate a book.

• Visual disability: Severe or total impairment of sight or the inability to focus or move one’s eyes.

The CELA collection is also available to educators and professionals who work with people with print disabilities.

Get started with CELA

• Self-register on the CELA website. If you have any further questions about CELA services, email them directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1-855-655-2273 for support.

• Alternatively, you can contact Brampton Library staff.

If you are an educator or professional who works with people with print disabilities, you can register for the Educator Access Program or Client Access Support Program.

Accessible collections 

Audiobooks on CD 

Audiobooks offer an accessible way to read when print presents obstacles. Audiobooks on CD are played on MP3-enabled CD players. Audiobooks can also be played on computers with a disc drive, and are navigable using media player software compatible with screen reading technologies.

Search audiobooks in our online catalogue.

DAISY Audiobooks and Readers 

DAISY is an audiobook format designed to be accessible and user-friendly for individuals who are unable to read standard print. Brampton Library has a deposit collection of DAISY audiobooks on CD available for exclusive use by customers with a print disability. 

Browse DAISY audiobooks on CD using our online catalogue.

DAISY audiobooks on CD are best experienced on devices with software designed to read DAISY format. Two different models of the VictorReader Stratus DAISY reader are available to borrow from Brampton Library. 

Learn more about the VictorReader Stratus DAISY reader.

Reading Aids

The C-Pen ReaderPen is a portable, text-to-speech scanning aid that helps readers build fluency, improve literacy, and read independently. The ReaderPen is designed to assist those with a learning disability such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, and can aid individuals with low vision.

Learn more about the C-Pen ReaderPen.

Closed-captioned films

Closed captioning is widely available in mainstream movies, TV shows, and documentaries in the library’s collection. Text descriptions of the dialogue, music and sound effects appear on the screen.

Described videos

Described video is a feature where narrated description of main visual elements, such as settings, costumes, and body language, is provided without interfering with the dialogue. Many DVDs in the library’s collection have this available as a special feature.

Search DVDs with described video in our online catalogue

Large print books

Large print books are unabridged texts with clear type in at least 13-point font. This collection includes adult fiction and non-fiction titles and is available at all branches. 

Search large print books in our online catalogue.

Deposit collections

Brampton Library provides recreational reading and listening collections to retirement homes and other long-term care facilities for use by residents. The collections are changed up to four times per year. For more information, please contact 905.793.4636 ext: 74228 or TTY 1.866.959.9994.

VOX books

VOX Books are enhanced picture books with full audio recordings that capture children’s attention and make learning and literacy development fun. 

Each VOX Book includes a permanently attached VOX Reader that transforms an ordinary picture book into an all-in-one read-along with professional narration. 

Browse VOX books in our online catalogue.

Online accessible collections

Your Brampton Library card gives you free online access to books, movies, and more. 

Digital collections and e-resources listed below have passed conformance requirements for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Standard.

Digital newspapers and magazines 

Read digital newspapers and magazines with PressReader. 

• The web platform and mobile apps are compatible with screen readers, such as JAWS, NVDA, TalkBack and VoiceOver. 

• Integrated keyboard navigation allows you to browse publications with just a few taps — making it simple for those with motor disabilities or vision impairment. 

• Flexible font size allows you to enlarge or shrink the font size on publications to fit your unique needs.

• Article view extracts text from the original newspaper or magazine and presents it in a way that’s simple to navigate. Publications break down into sections for easy reading.

E-Books and audiobooks

Read e-books and e-audiobooks with cloudLibrary.

• E-Books (available in EPUB and PDF formats) and audiobooks (available in MP3 format) can be borrowed for 21 days. 

• We recommend reading or listening to borrowed items through the cloudLibrary mobile apps for iOS and Android, as the apps are compatible with VoiceOver and TalkBack. 

• Customize settings in the Reader, such as font size, style (includes Open-Dyslexic font), page layout, contrast and line spacing.

Find e-books for children on Tumblebooks.

Find e-books for teens on TeenBookCloud.

• All e-books in Tumblebooks and TeenBookCloud are available in HTML5 with text in HTML to accommodate screen readers.

• TumbleBooks includes read-along storybooks that feature adjustable online text and complete audio narration.

• TeenBookCloud’s enhanced e-books feature adjustable font size, font style, line spacing, and text and background colour settings.

Online learning

Take an online course with LinkedIn Learning.

• The web platform, mobile apps, and video player are compatible with screen readers, such as JAWS, NVDA, TalkBack and VoiceOver.

• All videos are supported with closed captions. Captions can be launched on any video by clicking play on the player and then clicking the "CC" button.

• An interactive transcript can be launched on any video. 

• Additional support is available through Be My Eyes, a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with volunteers for visual assistance through a live video call.

Upskill in business and technology with O’Reilly.

• The web platform uses semantic HTML markup and proper colour contrast. It is navigable by both the mouse and keyboard and reachable by screen readers.

• Includes tools to customize your learning experience, such as the ability to control font size, colour scheme, and other typographical preferences along with video support closed captioning, transcripts, and adjustable playback speeds.

Learn a new language with Mango Languages. 

• The web platform, mobile apps, and video player are compatible with screen readers, such as JAWS, NVDA, TalkBack and VoiceOver.

• All videos are supported with closed captions. Captions can be turned on with the toggle in the settings menu to support what the narrator says that isn’t included on the screen.

Explore a creative hobby and learn a new skill with Creativebug.

• The web platform, mobile apps, and video player are compatible with screen readers, such as JAWS, NVDA, TalkBack and VoiceOver.

• All videos are supported with closed captions. Captions can be launched on any video by clicking play on the player, then clicking the "CC" button.

• An interactive transcript can be launched on any video.

Movie and TV Streaming

Watch movies and documentaries on Kanopy.

• The web platform, mobile apps, and video player are compatible with screen readers, such as JAWS, NVDA, TalkBack and VoiceOver.

• All videos are supported with closed captions. Captions can be launched on any video by clicking play on the player and then clicking the "CC" button.

• An interactive transcript can be launched on any video.

Resources

The following web platforms are compatible with screen readers. 

• Research and find the information you can trust with Gale General OneFile.
• Dive into the past with historical newspapers. Access issues of The Globe and Mail from 1844 to 2018. Access issues of the Toronto Star from 1894 to 2019.
• Research family history and genealogy with Ancestry Library Edition. Available on-site at your local library.

Access all available digital resources here.