Breaking barriers on accessibility
Access to research is a cornerstone of knowledge equity. Ensuring that people with visual disabilities can access academic content in accessible formats supports knowledge equity and upholds accessibility standards in academic publishing. However, for individuals with visual impairments, academic publishing presents unexpected challenges, as it often includes a significant number of visual components—such as graphs, charts, images, and diagrams—that are essential for understanding research findings.
Embedding accessible publishing best practices into publishing workflows has been a priority for academic publishers for over a decade.
One example of how publishers are integrating accessibility is at Taylor & Francis, where accessibility is not just a legal obligation but a core part of their publishing strategy and inclusivity efforts. The appointment of Chief Accessibility Officer Stacy Scott, alongside a cross-business working group, has helped embed accessibility across the organization and its publishing platforms. This work is further supported by a colleague resource group (CRG), which provides resources and fosters an inclusive work environment for all employees.
What actions were taken?
- Accelerating Alt Text Provision: More than 7,000 eBooks and 4,000 journals now provide alternative text, alongside upgrades to products and web platforms to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
- Launched an eReader for its eBooks platform, aiming to provide a seamless experience for all readers, that includes support for ePub3 format, the most accessible eBook format.
- Enhancing Content Navigation: eBook content is designed with a logical reading order, incorporating markup and heading structures for easier navigation.
- Implementing ePub3 Standards: In 2023, over 360,000 journal articles were converted from PDF to ePub3, which improves accessibility by allowing simultaneous reading and audio playback.
- Partnering to Increase Access: Strategic partnerships enable students with visual disabilities to participate in classroom lectures alongside their peers. With over 1 million journal articles now available in alternative formats, Taylor & Francis can provide accessible versions within a week if a suitable format is unavailable for purchase.
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