Featherstone 
Reach more readers, be more efficient & be a good literary citizen: it’s easy when you make your books more accessible
In today’s diverse reading landscape, ensuring your book is accessible to all readers is not just a courtesy or a good business decision—it’s a necessity.
Approximately 1 in 5 Australians, and so many more around the world, live with a disability, many of whom face challenges accessing traditional print materials.
By embracing inclusive publishing practices, authors can reach wider audiences and meet global accessibility standards.
In a recent episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi podcast, I found it so useful delving into this crucial topic with guests Julie Ganner and Dr. Agata Mrva-Montoya, co-authors of Books Without Barriers: A Practical Guide to Inclusive Publishing.
For a comprehensive understanding, listen in to the discussion, which offers invaluable insights for authors aiming to make their works more inclusive.
📝 Key Takeaways from the Podcast (but so much more info on the pod!)
- Understand Print Disabilities
Print disabilities encompass a range of conditions that hinder reading standard print materials, including:
- Vision impairments
- Motor disabilities
- Dyslexia
Recognising these challenges is the first step toward inclusive publishing.
- Embrace ‘Born Accessible’ Publishing
Creating content that’s accessible from the outset ensures all readers can engage with your work. Key practices include:
- Using semantic tagging in Word documents (I had such limited understanding of this before the podcast and it would have made prepping my books for designing in Vellum so much easier too!)
- Avoiding italics, single apostrophes and decorative fonts that hinder readability
- Avoiding ALLCAPS, and bolding ALLCAPS
- Providing descriptive alt-text for images (this was especially useful for authors using social media too!)
- Choose Reader-Friendly Fonts
Font selection plays a pivotal role in readability. Consider:
- Serif fonts: Georgia, Sabon
- Sans-serif fonts: Calibri, Verdana, Tahoma
- Specialised fonts: Atkinson Hyperlegible (for low vision)
These fonts enhance clarity and reduce reading strain.
- Design with Accessibility in Mind
Effective design ensures content is both attractive and accessible:
- Maintain high contrast between text and background
- Use adequate line spacing
- Avoid overly decorative fonts that can confuse readers
- Craft Effective Image Descriptions
Alt-text and image descriptions are vital for readers using screen readers. Ensure descriptions convey the essential information and context of images. (Julie and Agata have great ideas for authors on how to do this for your social posts too!).
- Address Children’s Book Specifics
For children’s literature:
- Use clear, uncluttered illustrations
- Ensure text contrasts well with backgrounds
- Be mindful of color choices, considering color vision deficiencies
📘 About Books Without Barriers
Books Without Barriers is a collaborative initiative between the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) and the Australian Publishers Association. It serves as a comprehensive guide for authors and publishers aiming to produce accessible content.
🌐 Final Thoughts
Inclusive publishing is more than a trend—it’s a commitment to equity and broadening your readership. Ensure you books are accessible to all by tuning into the ALLi podcast to learn more.