Because issuing an ebook simultaneously with the print version is becoming established publishing practice, compliance with the European Accessibility Act and Americans with Disabilities Act affects pretty much everyone involved in publishing in some form or another. For instance, many new authors, as subject matter experts, may be asked to create alt text descriptions to accompany their images or to simplify a table in an accepted manuscript, while some publishers are investing significant time, effort, and expense doing this work on the author’s behalf.
Not all publishers have the same structure and staffing, so accessibility procedures and outcomes vary. Some publishers can design for accessibility from the beginning and maintain that design throughout each stage. However, many publishers rely on vendors and freelancers, putting the accessibility of a single project in the hands of many, which can result in redundancy or the loss of solutions introduced at an earlier stage.
Ideally, preparing for accessibility can and should start at a project’s inception and be pursued throughout its creation. For instance, authors might consider alternatives to using bolding or italicization for emphasis. An eReader doesn’t always pick up this formatting, and even if it does, it’s debatable that saying “emphasis” before a bolded or italicized sentence is truly helpful. Instead, an author might consider communicating emphasis in words, such as “I cannot emphasize enough.” Accessibility experts advise that authors practice reading their texts aloud and use text-to-speech tools as ways to consider the needs of all readers before a manuscript ever crosses an editor’s desk. At a later stage, peer reviewers may encourage an author to rethink references to color, direction, visual cues, or complex language that might be exclusionary.
Authors may find it helpful to contact their press to learn more about its plan for making new works accessible upon publication.
—SUNY Press, May 2024