Accessibility

Active in the Community

VitalSource works with organisations such as the W3C, DIAGRAM Center, Book Industry Study Group, the Center for Accessible Materials Innovation, and the EDUPUB Alliance (EPUB for Education). We also collaborate with consultants and advocacy groups, such as the National Federation of the Blind, JISC, Tech for All, and others to grow the community and the capabilities of each part of the system.

Sustained Transparency

Solving the needs of learners requires a great deal of collaboration and accountability. VitalSource demonstrates its Section 508 compliance by publishing the VPATs for its products. But our commitment goes beyond mere compliance. We are transparent about our capabilities because learners and partners need to know how we meet their needs.

New! Accessibility Icons

Accessibility and compatibility with assistive technology is now clearly noted with icons for titles offering these features, allowing instructors and students to quickly see the information on the product details page.

• Publishers and content providers can describe the accessibility features included in their content
• Instructors selecting content for course adoption can quickly view the accessibility features on the product details page
• Students can confirm if their assigned course materials will accommodate their needs before they purchase the content

Colours and Contrasts

• Bookshelf® Online has an inbuilt function to alter the colour of the display
• Readers can adjust the background colour to sepia using the “night mode” option
• Readers in the platform have the ability to vote on features and functionality
• Readers using a Mac can change the colour on their computer—this functionality is called “Night Shift”
• Development is in progress for the ability to select different font colours and contrast changes

Copying and Printing

• There are some limits on the amount of content that can be copied or printed from Bookshelf, as designated by the publisher
• A print dialogue box advises readers on the print limit for their title
• Limits on printing and copying vary, but are usually around 10%

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

• Content delivered through the Bookshelf online reader and mobile applications employs DRM protection
• Files can only be opened in Bookshelf

Image Descriptions

• If alt text image descriptions have been added to a file and the reader is utilising a screen reader software, the alt text will be displayed in line with the text
• We encourage all of our publishers to supply alt tags and long descriptions on content when possible to ensure our images (excluding book covers) adhere to WCAG AA
• Transcripts and alt text for video and audio content can be made available, where provided by the publisher

Keyboard Shortcuts

• VitalSource Bookshelf Online is browser-based and will work with supported keyboard shortcuts. Learn about various quick keys here: mobile, Mac, and Windows

Magnification

• Magnify content in the platform up to 300%
• Plans are in action to implement line spacing, margin width, and text justification

Navigation

• Bookshelf supports navigational tagging (heading levels, hyperlinks) and reading order, where supplied by the publisher
• VitalSource will begin badging books on their accessibility features in our online store, allowing users to make informed decisions before purchasing
• Where page numbers are available, we will expose them in both the margins and contents page

Reading Options

• PDF and EPUB files can be read in Bookshelf
• Both file types can be read with a screen reader such as, but not limited to, JAWS and NVDA
• Readers can resize text using our content controls located at the bottom of the screen or change the zoom percentage of the entire page

Screen Readers

Bookshelf is compatible with:

• JAWS
• NVDA
• SuperNova
• Plus more

Text to Speech

• Bookshelf Online has an inbuilt text-to-speech function
• Rewind, play, pause, and fast-forward
• The text being read is highlighted on the page
• Both PDF and EPUB file formats can be read
• Readers in the platform have the ability to vote on features and functionality
• We support VoiceOver and TalkBack screen readers for iOS and Android, respectively