The Information Professional

Submitted by Christopher Harris:

"As we go hunting for the right ebook readers for our patrons, accessibility is one of the factors to consider. People with vision, dexterity, or cognitive disabilities need certain specific features, and ebook readers are all over the map in what they offer and how they offer it. But it’s not as complicated as it might seem, and there’s some help available."

"Here’s a basic breakdown of who needs what:

- For people who are blind, the text must be spoken aloud, and descriptions provided for images and graphs. Controls must be distinguishable by touch. (Some touchscreen devices now provide a way for controls to announce their function without activating them.)
- For people with low vision, the text must be high contrast and magnifiable ,or in a large, easy-to-read font.
- For people with cognitive disabilities, controls must be easy to use. Text must be able to be spoken aloud and highlighted as it is spoken.
- For people with dexterity impairments, controls must be easy to operate, and not require more than one action at a time, or complicated actions. Devices must be easy to lift, hold, and operate with one hand.
- For people with hearing loss, audible alerts and alarms should have a visible form as well. Any audio content should be available in text."