At Kobo Writing Life, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a great book. As an author, you play a vital role in making your books accessible to readers. This article provides simple steps you can take to improve the accessibility of your eBooks and reach a wider audience, drawing on best practices for eBook creation.
Why Accessibility Matters
Creating accessible eBooks isn't just about being inclusive; it's about reaching more readers. Many people benefit from accessible features, including:
- Visually impaired readers: Who use screen readers or adjustable font sizes.
- Readers with dyslexia: Who benefit from specific fonts and spacing.
- Readers with motor impairments: Who use alternative input methods.
- Readers who simply prefer a customized reading experience.
Simple Steps to Improve Accessibility:
We've broken down some key accessibility considerations for eBook best practices.
- Use Clear and Consistent Formatting:
- Headings: Use proper heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) in your word processor. This helps screen readers navigate the book and creates a logical structure. Think of it like creating an outline for your book. Don't just make text look like a heading by changing the font size; use the actual heading styles. This is crucial for accessibility and navigation.
- Paragraphs: Use paragraph styles. Keep paragraphs concise and focused. Avoid unnecessary line breaks within paragraphs. Let the text flow naturally.
- Lists: Use the built-in list features (bulleted or numbered) instead of manually creating lists with dashes or numbers. This ensures that screen readers can correctly identify and announce lists.
- Consistent Formatting: Apply styles consistently throughout your book. Don't change heading styles mid-chapter without a reason.
- Add Alternative Text (Alt Text) to Images:
- What is Alt Text? Alt text is a short description of an image that screen readers can read aloud. It provides context for visually impaired readers.
- How to Add Alt Text: In your word processor, right-click on the image, choose "Format Picture" or a similar option, and look for a field called "Alt Text," "Description," or "Alternative Text."
- What to Write: Be descriptive and concise. For example, instead of "Picture of a cat," write "A fluffy orange cat sleeping on a windowsill." If the image is purely decorative and doesn't add meaning to the text, you can mark it as null. Important: If the image contains text, include that text in the alt text.
- Choose Readable Fonts:
- While readers can often adjust fonts, selecting a clear and readable font in your original document helps.
- Sans-serif fonts (like Arial, Helvetica, or Open Sans) are generally considered more accessible than serif fonts.
- Ensure Sufficient Contrast:
- Make sure there's enough contrast between the text color and the background color. Black text on a white background is the most accessible. Avoid light text on a light background (e.g., light gray text on a white background).
- Descriptive Links:
- When including hyperlinks, use descriptive link text. Avoid using URLs as link text.
- Consider a Table of Contents:
- A well-formatted table of contents (TOC) makes navigation easier for all readers, especially those using screen readers. Most word processors can automatically generate a TOC based on your heading styles. Make sure your TOC is linked correctly to the corresponding chapters.
- Avoid Fixed Layout (Reflowable Text is Key):
- Ensure your eBook uses reflowable text. This means the text adapts to the reader's screen size and font preferences. Avoid fixed-layout formatting unless absolutely necessary (e.g., for complex illustrated books). Fixed layouts can be very difficult for readers using screen readers or those who need to adjust font sizes.
- Metadata Matters:
- Ensure your eBook has complete and accurate metadata, including a title, author name, and description. This helps readers find your book and understand what it's about.
9. Language Consistency
- Multiple Languages: Kobo supports a wide range of languages. If your book contains multiple languages, select the primary language in the metadata.
10. Understanding Text-to-Speech (TTS)
- Kobo supports TTS for eBooks. By following the other accessibility guidelines in this article (clear formatting, correct language settings), you'll ensure that your book works well with TTS. The quality of the TTS experience also depends on the reader's device and voice settings.
Kobo's Role:
Kobo is committed to providing an accessible reading experience. Our platform supports many accessibility features, including adjustable font sizes, customizable margins, and screen reader compatibility. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your books work seamlessly with these features.
For more information, please refer to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/