Guidelines for Accessible E-text

Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities

What is accessible e-text?

• E-text: structured electronic text which is accessible to people with a print disability

• Range of formats: plain text, Word, RTF, OpenDocument, (X)HTML, DAISY (ePub, PDF?)

• “Born digital” or converted from another format.

Accessing e-text

• Synthetic speech.

• Refreshable braille.

• Viewing on screenscreen magnificationzoom/magnifying functionsmodified colour combinationsvisual highlightingnot using any special software.

Universal design

• designing one document for a range of access methods

• “The Web is not a barrier to people with disabilities, it is the solution” from Constructing a POUR website http://www.webaim.org/articles/pour/

Round Table Guidelines

• general accessibility principles to provide equivalent access for all.

• best practice accessibility methods for particular file formats.

• for transcribers, publishers, organisations producing electronic information, individuals with a print disability.

1. Equivalent to print

• Include all meaningful elements of the print document.

• Ensure accuracy.

• Mark changes to the print with producers' notes.

• Include metadata.

2. Accessible

• Arrange text in a linear reading order.

• Include structural markup.

• Verbalise images and visual elements.

• Express special characters and languages unambiguously.

3. Clear visual style

• Use a clear visual design.

• Allow users to control visual appearance.

4. Standards, Guidelines and Best Practice

• Follow applicable standards

• Adjust for individual need and preference

• Ensure consistency

Particular formats

• HTML (and XHTML)

• Rich Text Format (RTF) and word processing formats

• Plain text

• DAISY text

• Not specifically covered: ePub, ebook formats, PDF (but general principles apply)

Questions?