W3C publishes EPUB Accessibility 1.2 explainer draft
The W3C Publishing Maintenance Working Group has published a draft of the EPUB Accessibility 1.2 Explainer, providing guidance on understanding and evaluating the accessibility requirements introduced in EPUB Accessibility 1.2. The document is published as a Group Note Draft and is intended to support, rather than replace, the EPUB Accessibility 1.2 specification.
The explainer clarifies how Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2 success criteria apply to reflowable EPUB publications, where web accessibility guidance may not directly address the characteristics of digital publications. It also explains EPUB-specific accessibility objectives, including page navigation, page lists, synchronised text and audio playback, and methods for evaluating accessible publications.
In addition, the document provides practical guidance for accessibility evaluations, including identifying applicable content types, determining which WCAG success criteria are relevant, and assessing EPUB publications consistently across different evaluation contexts.
Why does it matter?
EPUB is one of the most widely used formats for digital books and publications. While WCAG provides general accessibility requirements, applying those requirements to digital publications can be challenging because EPUB content differs from traditional websites. The explainer aims to improve consistency in accessibility evaluations and help publishers produce publications that are more accessible to people with disabilities.
