Disability Support: Accessibility
Accessibility
Ebook providers are expected to publish an accessibility statement which describes the accessible features of their ebook platform, and how to use those features. Accessible features vary between ebook suppliers.
The link to the accessibility statement for each ebook can be found on the Locate record. Look under ‘View it’ after you have clicked on ‘Online Access’.
See the accessibility statements from our top five providers by clicking on the buttons on the right.
Accessible features
Text to speech
Built in text to speech
The following ebook providers have a built-in ‘read aloud’ function: Gale Cengage, VLe and the Kortext app.
Using the online reader
If no built-in text to speech is available, and you prefer to use the live online book, you can use a screen reader such as Windows Immersive Reader, Apple VoiceOver, NVDA (Windows only) or JAWS (Windows only).
Ebook Central also has a 'text only' mode which enables the book to be presented as plain text and read by a screen reader. More information at: text only mode for screen readers. See also How do I turn text only mode on or off?
Downloaded PDFs/EPUBs
You will need a screen reader to read aloud PDFs; examples are Windows Immersive Reader, Apple VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS and Adobe Acrobat Reader’s ‘Read Out Loud’ tool.
Adobe Digital Editions does not have a built-in text to speech function, but can be used with Apple VoiceOver, NVDA and JAWS.
EBSCO has a mobile app which uses VoiceOver on iOS and TalkBack on Android. EBSCO recommends using the app over Adobe Digital Editions.
RNIB Bookshare
If you have a diagnosed print disability or dyslexia and regularly use text to speech you may find it beneficial to have an RNIB Bookshare account which provides alternative formats.
Fonts and background colours
Many online readers allow users to change the font and background colours.
See the accessibility statement from the ebook provider for more information.
Making notes and highlighting
Annotation features are best done using the online reader for each ebook platform and by logging into your account. Not all ebook platforms allow for making notes or highlighting.
Ebook Central, Kortext and VLe books allow you to highlight, make notes and add bookmarks in their online readers. Taylor & Francis allow for notes and bookmarks. They also allow you to store your favourite books on a bookshelf or personal library where your notes and annotations remain.
Adobe Digital Editions allows you to highlight and bookmark.
EBSCO doesn’t have highlighting and allows for general note making, but the notes are not linked to a page.
Springer and Elsevier do not allow for notes or highlights. It’s best to download chapters as PDFs.
Need more advice?
Speak to the library disability co-ordinator Gill Evans lbx122@coventry.ac.uk
Coventry University
Frederick Lanchester Building
Gosford Street
Coventry, United Kingdom
CV1 5DD
Telephone:+44 (0) 24 7765 7575
Email: ask-a-librarian.lib@coventry.ac.uk
