What is it?
Accessible digital text is electronic text that learners can perceive, navigate, and customize using the tools and access methods that work for them. Unlike a photograph or scan of printed text, accessible digital text can typically be selected, searched, enlarged, read aloud, adjusted for display preferences, and accessed with assistive technologies such as screen readers, text-to-speech, braille displays, or alternative input methods.
How to use it?
Provide text in formats that allow learners to interact with and customize the content. Use real, selectable text rather than images of text, organize information with meaningful headings, and ensure reading order and navigation are logical. When possible, allow learners to adjust features such as text size, spacing, contrast, or display and use tools such as text-to-speech. Check that digital materials work with the assistive technology learners use.
Why use it?
Digital does not automatically mean accessible. When text is created in an accessible format, learners have more options for how they read, navigate, and interact with information. Accessible digital text can reduce barriers related to vision, decoding, physical access, attention, and print processing while allowing learners to engage with the same content in ways that meet their individual access needs.
