June 2025 marks a turning point in the world of digital books. From this month onward, accessibility is no longer optional but a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. This means ebooks must be designed so that all people, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities, can read them without barriers.
Why is ebook accessibility important?
For designers and publishers, this represents a deep change in how digital files are created and prepared. It’s not enough to have attractive design or correct layout: every element in the ebook must comply with technical accessibility standards. This includes:
- Proper use of metadata describing content features for assistive technologies.
- Clear, semantic navigation that facilitates moving through the book.
- Correctly hierarchical headings (h1, h2, h3…).
- Alternative text descriptions for images.
- Proper marking of text language.
Key regulations and standards
The WCAG 2.1 guidelines and the EPUB 3 standard provide the foundation for accessibility. Complying with these standards not only avoids legal penalties but also opens the door to a wider audience.
An opportunity to democratize reading
Accessibility is an opportunity for more people to enjoy content without barriers. If you haven’t incorporated these practices into your ebooks yet, now is the time to start. The adaptation may seem complex, but there are tools and best practices that ease the process.
In today’s publishing world, accessibility is not an extra—it’s the standard for creating responsible, modern digital books.