This document discusses establishing a baseline for creating accessible EPUB publications. It proposes that publications should: 1) Provide accessible content in EPUB 3 format, supported by reading systems that can present the full text across platforms and integrate with assistive technologies like screen readers. 2) Use the native semantics of HTML5 to structure content in a logical reading order and enable effective navigation. 3) Include alternative text descriptions for non-decorative images to convey information to all readers. The document calls for collaboration across the publishing industry to develop these baseline requirements and certification processes to identify accessible publications, with the goal of continually raising standards over time.

1. Baseline for Born Accessible EPUB
Implementing the Legislative Strategy:
Accessible Digital Publishing
within & beyond the legal threshold
George Kerscher
9th
European e-Accessibility Forum
June 8th
2015

2. Inclusive Publishing Industry
•trade and educational publishers
•journal and magazine publishers
•comics and Manga industry
•disability-focused organizations
•educational institutions
•governmental organizations
•tech companies
•standards organizations

3. Publishers ask: “What do I need to do
to make my publications accessible to
persons with disabilities?”
Agreement needs to be reached on the baseline features.
•It is not easy
•We must push the bar higher
•We must be practical

4. •Publication must provide accessible content in EPUB 3
(or future version)
•Reading system used must support EPUB 3 content
•Publication, in the context of the reading system,
must be useable with Assistive Technology (AT)
Consensus: All 3 components must be working or it is
impractical to include a given feature as a
requirement for accessibility in published documents.
EPUB 3 Designed for Everybody
Requirements

5. Today
Publishers can deliver the text of their publication in a well-
structured, logical reading order, even if images are used
for title or headings as long as ALT text is there.
•EPUB reading systems can present the full text of an EPUB
3 publication on every platform.
•Assistive Technology (AT) can integrate with reading
systems and speak the text using synthetic speech (TTS), as
refreshable braille using a Bluetooth device, or enlarge the
text on the screen.
Consensus: Well-structured text in a logical reading order is
a baseline requirement for a Born Accessible publication.

6. HTML 5 Content Structure
To benefit all readers, publishers must make use of the
native semantics of HTML 5 – starting point of accessible
content, foundation for digital publishing
This will enable:
•logical reading order
•effective navigation
•skipping and escaping content
Consensus: Native HTML 5 elements will be used to
correctly identify content structure

7. Images, ALT text & Additional Enhancements
•Images used for ornamental purposes
•Images & graphics can be made accessible using ALT text
•Images, charts, diagrams, maps, infographics…..convey
information that may need to be customized for different
types of learners
Consensus: Publishers will identify ornamental images. ALT
text (W3C A & AA guidelines) /
Accessible EPUB 3: Best Practices by Matt Garrish &
DIAGRAM’s Image Guidelines for EPUB 3. Coming: BISG
Quick Start Guide for Accessibility.

8. Metadata, Asserting Conformance
Metadata will be necessary for discovery, marketing, sales
and inclusion in educational coursework.
Consensus:
Metadata will identify the accessibility features of
publications that confirm to the baseline Born Accessible
agreed-upon features, as defined in the
ONIX code (List 196) and Schema.org which includes a set of
accessibility metadata

9. Enhancements to Born Accessible
Publications
•Adding value by using Diagrammar: A Framework for
Making Images and Graphics Accessible
•Republishing materials for persons who are not
technologically capable – the safety net
•Future enhancements delivered separately as annotations
•Reading system would integrate those annotations with
the commercially available Born Accessible version
•DAISY Consortium members make terrific partners to
make information fully accessible

10. Educational Publications and the EDUPUB
Profile of EPUB 3
•Modern educational publications in EPUB 3 format are
anticipated to use the EDUPUB profile
•Videos need to be captioned
•Support for MathML rapidly evolving
•Scripted components, widgets, assessments, 3D
(WebGL) demonstrations, data visualizations, SVG
Consensus: Educational materials will have additional
requirements in the baseline for Born Accessible EPUB 3
in the EDUPUB profile

11. Broadly Available EPUB 3 Authoring Tools
•Needed in education for course content
development
•Needed in governmental organizations for
publications
•Needed for everyday use by authors, students and
professionals

12. Conformance and Certification
•Epubcheck, use it now
•Pre-flight needed to assist with checking
conformance
•Self-certification linked to metadata
•External certification of publisher content
Consensus: Tools for evaluation, certification
approaches, approved guidelines training and
support will be topics for discussion

13. Reading System Testing
epubtest.org - IDPF, BISG, DAISY Collaboration
Fundamental accessibility tests available now.

14. Raising the Bar
Consensus: The practical baseline features for
Born Accessible publications are expected to advance as
technology and work processes improve

15. Call to Action
•Everybody is invited to participate in the evolving
Inclusive Publishing Ecosystem
•Formal announcement will kick off the collaborative effort
•We do not expect to meet in-person, all virtual
•DAISY Consortium will help to drive
•Key principles: Consensus and practicality
•We need to raise the bar over time
Contact George Kerscher directly: kerscher@montana.com