The European Accessibility Act (EAA) and its implications for ebooks

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) and its implications for ebooks

1. Mandatory Accessibility Requirements

·        Self-publishers must ensure that their ebooks are accessible to persons with disabilities.

·        This includes compatibility with screen readers, adjustable text size and color contrast, and proper navigation structure.

2. Compliance Deadline

·        The EAA comes into full effect on June 28, 2025.

·        Self-publishers need to ensure their ebooks meet accessibility requirements by this date to continue selling in the EU market.

3. Technical Standards

·        Publishers will need to comply with specific technical standards, likely including EPUB Accessibility 1.0 and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA.

·        This may require learning new skills or investing in tools to create compliant ebooks.

4. Metadata Requirements

·        Accessible ebooks must include accessibility metadata describing their features.

·        This helps readers understand the accessibility features before purchasing.

5. Market Access

·        Non-compliant ebooks may be restricted from the EU market after the compliance deadline.

·        This could significantly impact sales potential for self-publishers who don't adapt.

·        Non-compliance could lead to legal challenges or fines.

·        The exact enforcement mechanisms may vary by EU member state.

7. Production Costs

-        Creating accessible ebooks may increase production costs and time.

-        This could include expenses for training, tools, or outsourcing to accessibility experts.

8. Distribution Channels

·        Self-publishers may need to ensure their chosen distribution platforms support and properly display accessible ebook formats

9. Opportunity for Differentiation

·        Early adopters of accessibility standards may gain a competitive advantage in the EU market.

·        This could lead to increased visibility and sales potential.

10. Global Impact

·        While the EAA is an EU regulation, its effects may influence global accessibility standards for ebooks.

·        Self-publishers may find it beneficial to apply these standards universally, not just for EU-targeted titles.



    • Related Articles

    • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

      The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) to ensure that web content is accessible to people with disabilities. While WCAG was primarily designed for web content, its principles ...

    • Choosing a Conversion Supplier

      At this link, NNELS provides a list of questions that publishers seeking Accessible EPUB should put to potential conversion suppliers. The answer from desLibris Publishing Solutions to every question is "yes." Working with a Third-Party Accessible ...

    • The KDP Outlook on Accessiblity

      KDP encourages authors to use accessibility features in their ebooks by providing some basic tools and guidance for creating more accessible content, particularly through their Kindle Create software. 2. Format Support KDP supports uploading of EPUB ...

    • Distribution Platforms using Accessible PDF

      These platforms not only distribute accessible content but also often partner with accessibility organizations to ensure that the materials meet the standards required for inclusive access. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) -Although primarily ...

    • Why Choose DPS?

      Learn by Doing For every conversion project, the DPS process provides a "school of experience" through which publishers can build accessible ebooks in a working environment. The applied learning that comes from engagement in the process and the Q&A ...