Accessible eBooks: Step-by-Step Design & Technical Guide

Introduction

Accessibility in digital publishing is no longer optional—it is essential. A well-written eBook can fail its readers if it overlooks accessibility, leaving people with disabilities unable to navigate or comprehend the content.

From students using screen readers to older adults with low vision, inclusive design ensures your eBook reaches every reader.

This guide walks you through practical, standards-compliant steps for creating accessible eBooks, covering everything from design choices to file formats, compatibility with assistive technologies, and how professional eBook conversion services can make a difference.

What Are Accessible eBooks?

An accessible eBook is a digital publication that can be read and understood by everyone, including people with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments. These eBooks support assistive technologies like screen readers, magnifiers, and text-to-speech tools, and allow users to personalize their reading experience—such as adjusting font size or background color.

Accessible eBooks follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and utilize features in standards like EPUB 3 to ensure usability across a wide range of devices and needs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Implement Accessible eBooks

Design Implementation

Use Adjustable Fonts and Text Sizes

Let your readers resize the text easily. This is especially helpful for people with poor eyesight or those reading on small screens. Use simple fonts like Arial, Verdana, Open Sans, or Open Dyslexic, which are easier to read and work well with screen readers.

Stay away from decorative fonts that might look nice but are hard to read. Also, leave enough space between lines—about one and a half times the font size—and use layouts that let the content adjust automatically to different screen sizes.

Ensure Adequate Color Contrast and Visual Options

Good color contrast between text and background makes reading easier for everyone. Try to use dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background, and give users the option to switch to dark mode if they want. Never rely only on color to show meaning—use bold text, underlines, or icons as well. If your text is placed on an image, use a soft or solid background behind the text so it stays readable.

Spacing and Layout for Legibility

Text that’s too close together is hard to read. Leave enough space between letters, words, and paragraphs. Make sure your paragraphs are clearly separated and easy to scan. Avoid full-justified text (where words are stretched to fill the entire line), as it can create uneven spacing. Stick with left-aligned text—it’s easier to follow and works well with screen readers.

Support Interactivity Thoughtfully

If your eBook has videos, audio clips, quizzes, or other interactive elements, make sure they’re usable by everyone. Always include captions for videos and transcripts for audio. Let users control media (no autoplay) and make sure everything can be used with a keyboard. If you add custom buttons or links, label them properly so screen readers can describe them clearly.

Define Document Language

Set the correct language in your eBook so screen readers know how to pronounce the words. If your book uses more than one language, mark those sections with the right language code (like "en" for English or "es" for Spanish). This helps readers using audio tools get a smooth, understandable experience.

Technical Implementation

File Format

The foundation of an accessible eBook lies in the format you choose. EPUB 3 is the most suitable format for accessibility because it supports reflowable text, HTML5 structure, semantic tagging, and media overlays. This format allows readers to customize font sizes, styles, and background colors to fit their needs. It is also fully compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies.

On the other hand, fixed-layout PDFs can be limiting, especially for users who need to enlarge text or change viewing settings. Unless your content depends on preserving a specific visual layout, it is best to avoid fixed formats in favor of EPUB 3.

Alternative Text for Images

Images add value to eBooks, but they must be described for users who cannot see them. Every meaningful image should include alternative text (alt text), which provides a short written description of what the image represents. For instance, an alt text might describe a chart or a photograph so that screen readers can convey that information to visually impaired users.

Decorative images that do not add meaning should be marked with empty alt text (alt="") so they are ignored by assistive tools. For complex visuals like graphs or infographics, consider providing longer descriptions in the body content or linking to a separate accessible explanation.

Transcripts and Closed Captions

Any audio or video content in your eBook should come with appropriate text alternatives. Audio files must have full transcripts that readers can access, and video content should include closed captions that are synchronized with the spoken words.

Using formats like WebVTT makes it easier to time captions properly. These features support users who are deaf or hard of hearing and benefit anyone who prefers reading over listening.

Ensure all media controls—such as play, pause, and volume—are accessible using a keyboard. Also, avoid autoplaying audio or video, as this can be disruptive and confusing, especially for screen reader users.

Screen Reader and Text-to-Speech (TTS) Support

To make your eBook compatible with screen readers and text-to-speech tools, it must follow a logical and consistent structure.

Use basic HTML tags such as <h1>, <p>, and <nav> to organize your content into headings, paragraphs, and navigation sections. This allows assistive tools to interpret the layout accurately and follow the reading order as intended.

Do not depend solely on CSS for visual positioning, as this can confuse screen readers. Where necessary, include ARIA landmarks and roles to improve navigation, especially in more interactive or complex layouts.

Language Tagging

Setting the correct language in your eBook ensures screen readers pronounce words properly. The main language of the book should be defined in the HTML or EPUB metadata using a tag like lang="en".

If your content includes multiple languages, apply language tags to each section—for example, lang="es" for Spanish or lang="fr" for French.

This helps the assistive technology detect language changes and adjust pronunciation accordingly, offering a smoother experience for multilingual readers.

How to Test Your eBook’s Accessibility

Once your eBook is created, test it to make sure it works well for everyone:

• Manual Testing: Use screen readers like NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac), or JAWS to check how your eBook is read aloud. Try increasing font size and using keyboard navigation to see if the layout stays clear.
• Automated Tools: Use tools like ACE by DAISY, EPUB Checker, or Flightdeck to check for missing tags, incorrect structure, or other accessibility issues.
• User Testing: Ask real users with disabilities to try your eBook and share their feedback. They can help you catch things that software might miss and suggest ways to improve the reading experience.

Why Work with an eBook Conversion Service Provider?

Even if you follow all the right steps, it can be tricky to ensure your eBook meets accessibility standards across all platforms. A professional eBook conversion company knows how to handle technical formatting, language tags, alt text, and screen reader support properly.

They can also test your eBook for compatibility with different devices and help you publish on major platforms like Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play Books.

Working with a reliable eBook conversion service saves time and ensures your eBook is truly accessible to all types of readers.

Boost Your eBook Reach with Accessibility

Making your eBook accessible is not just about following rules—it’s about making sure everyone can enjoy your work. From adjusting fonts and colors to adding captions and clear navigation, small changes can make a big difference.

An accessible eBook reaches more people, creates a better reading experience, and reflects your commitment to inclusivity. Whether you’re an author, publisher, or educator, taking these steps will help you connect with a broader audience.

And if you want to get it right the first time, partnering with a professional eBook conversion service is a smart move.