Zanichelli Editore S.p.A. of Italy and Fundação Dorina Nowill para Cegos of Brazil have been named the winners of the 2026 ABC International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing in the publisher and initiative categories, respectively. Both organizations were recognized for their outstanding contributions to advancing the accessibility of digital publications for persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print-disabled.
The winners were announced by Ms. Monica Halil Lovblad, Head of the Accessible Books Consortium, on April 13, 2026, during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair Awards Ceremony in Bologna, Italy.
Publisher Category Winner: Zanichelli Editore
The jury commended Zanichelli for embedding accessibility into its core publishing processes, ensuring that educational materials are “born accessible” and available to all learners from the outset. The publishing house was innovative in its use of AI in its production processes, particularly in the generation of alternative descriptions for images. Zanichelli’s accessible publications reach thousands of students and teachers with disabilities, supporting inclusive learning. Its work ensures that students with print disabilities can obtain the same high-quality educational content as their peers, at the same time and without delay, helping to create a more equitable learning environment.
Accessibility is not a recent trend, nor is it a niche project or a box to be ticked in order to fulfil legal obligations. It is a basic educational responsibility and the driving force behind our technical and editorial innovation.
Irene Enriques, Director General, Zanichelli Editores S.p.A.
Initiative Category Winner: Fundação Dorina Nowill para Cegos (Brazil)
In the initiative category, Fundação Dorina Nowill para Cegos was recognized for its innovative “Dorina AI” platform, at a particularly significant moment as the organization marks its 80th anniversary in 2026. This recognition highlights its long-standing contribution to inclusion and accessible reading in Brazil.
The “Dorina AI” platform introduces a new approach to one of the most persistent challenges in accessible publishing: the creation of image descriptions. By using artificial intelligence alongside human expertise, Dorina AI significantly increases both the speed and quality of accessible book production.
Now fully integrated into the Dorina Nowill’s production processes, the platform supports the delivery of accessible educational materials at a national scale in Brazil, helping ensure that thousands of students receive school textbooks in accessible formats so that they can complete their studies in a timely manner.
The recognition of Dorina AI through the ABC International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing reinforces the potential of technology as a powerful ally for inclusion. Our commitment is to continue developing solutions that ensure blind and visually impaired individuals have full access to information.
Alexandre Munck, CEO, Fundação Dorina Nowill para Cegos.
ABC International Excellence Award
Since 2015, the ABC International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing has celebrated leadership and innovation in making e-books and other digital publications accessible to people who are blind, have low vision, are dyslexic, or have physical disabilities that limit access to printed text. The winners are selected by a selection jury made up of accessibility experts, including representatives from the publishing sector, standards organizations, and groups representing persons with print disabilities.
Background
According to a 2017 study published in The Lancet, approximately 253 million people are blind or visually impaired world-wide. Nearly 90% of these are resident in developing countries, where the World Blind Union (WBU) estimates that people who are blind have only a one in ten chance of going to school or getting a job. A lack of accessible books remains a very real barrier to getting an education and leading an independent, productive life.
About ABC
The Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) is a public-private partnership led by WIPO that, together with its many partners around the world, has had real impact over the past decade. Since its inception, the ABC Global Book Service catalogue has quadrupled in size to 1.2 million titles thanks to the inclusion of the collections of participating authorized entities. ABC delivered a total of 240,500 accessible digital files from the ABC catalogue to persons with print disabilities through its authorized entities in 2025. In addition, through ABC’s training and technical assistance partners, more than 24,000 textbooks have been made accessible in over 40 low-income countries, improving access to education for thousands of young people. ABC was established in June 2014 to implement the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty.
About Bologna Children’s Book Fair
The Bologna Children's Book Fair, 13 - 16 April 2026 is an industry leading event that has succeeded in bringing together a unique and diverse global audience thanks to 62 years experience. The result is the world’s premium copyright exchange hub when it comes to publishing which also extends to current multimedia and licensing businesses for children’s stories, illustration, animation and related areas.
About WIPO
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property policy, services, information and cooperation. A specialized agency of the United Nations, WIPO assists its 194 Member States in developing a balanced international IP legal framework to meet society's evolving needs. It provides business services for obtaining IP rights in multiple countries and resolving disputes. It delivers capacity-building programs to help developing countries benefit from using IP. And it provides free access to unique knowledge banks of IP information.