Accessible Content

Edward Elgar Publishing is committed to publishing accessible content. A digital accessible text is one that is compatible with screen reading software to allow equal access to content for those with visual or reading impairments.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) establishes accessibility targets which we, in common with all Publishers, must meet to ensure free movement of ebooks within the EU market. The EAA strengthens the rights of people with disabilities to access products and services, including ebooks and e-readers and is already in force. Publishers need to be compliant by June 2025 to ensure our products can enter the EU market.

Please see our guidance below on how to make your manuscript comply with European Accessibility Act (EAA) regulations.  

 

Alternative Text

Alternative Text (‘alt text’) is a key principle of accessible publishing and we require alt text to be provided for images so that those with visual or reading impairments can access the descriptive information for these. Please see more detailed guidance on preparing alt text further down on this page.

 

Tables

Please avoid including multiple header rows and merged, split, empty or large cells in any tables as screen readers are unable to navigate these. For detailed guidance on this please visit: https://www.e-elgar.com/author-hub/as-you-write-your-book-or-chapter/#accordion-46 or contact your commissioning editor if there are any tables you are unsure about.

Please note that tables which do not comply with accessible table guidelines will be changed to a figure and will require alt text. If your table is too long/complex to be changed to a figure then it will need to be omitted from the book or the data will have to be displayed in a different format (e.g. within the body text/smaller tables).

 

Structured content for e-readers

In order for your chapter to be navigable using screen readers, we require your assistance with the following:

 

Subheadings

Any subheadings need to be clearly identified with either numbered or lettered headings within the text, e.g. Chapter One may contain an Introduction section labelled ‘1.1 Introduction’ or ‘A. Introduction’

 

Labelling Tables, Figures and Boxes

Similarly, all Tables, Figures and Boxes in your book need to be clearly labelled in order to be easily navigated to - they must have numbers e.g. ‘Figure 1.1’ and titles e.g. ‘A graph from 2021–22 of employed women in UK’.

 

Notes

Endnotes and footnotes need to be inserted using the Word endnote/footnote tool so they are ‘linked’ and easily cross referenced.

 

Boxes

Any boxes or lengthy quotes should ideally be introduced in the text immediately preceding them, e.g. ‘Box 1.1 discusses the idea of X’ or ‘John Smith’s talks about Y below’.

 

How to Write Effective Alt Text for Images (photos, maps, logos, figures) in Accessible Scholarly Books

  • Describe it to a friend: The best test of good alt text is to ask a colleague or friend to listen to the alt text and then see if they could draw the image you have described. If they can, and it includes all the important information, then you have good alt text, if vital layout or data points are missing then you need to give more detail in your alt text. 
  • Do not repeat your caption/title: A caption will be read aloud by a screenreader before alt text, so you do not want your alt text to be a replica of this or your reader will have duplicate information. Alt text should give specific details about the figure, rather than the brief overview given by the caption. 
  • Avoid Using AI for Alt Text Creation: Relying on AI for generating alt text can compromise the quality and originality of your work, as AI-generated alt text often lacks accuracy and context-specific relevance
  • Avoid Repetition: Do not repeat information already present in the title, caption or main text. Ensure the alt text adds value. Avoid including phrases like "image of" or "picture of". Phrases like "This figure shows" are redundant 
  • Provide Valuable Information and Functional Description over Appearance: Ensure that the alt text conveys the same information as the image, capturing its essential function and purpose. Focus on describing what data the image conveys, its purpose and significance. You do not need to  describe arrow shapes, shades of grey/pattern differentials or colours. Do not use file names or URLs in alt text
  • Audience-Appropriate Language: Use terminology and language suitable for your scholarly audience
  • Testing for Completeness: Does the caption and alt text provide the same information as the image? If not, enhance the alt text to ensure comprehensive understanding

By adhering to these guidelines, you will contribute to making academic content more accessible and inclusive, ensuring that all readers can fully engage with and understand your work.

For examples of alt text see the Alt Text Samples PDF.

Please note that tables which do not comply with accessible table guidelines will be changed to a figure and will require alt text. If your table is too long/complex to be changed to a figure then it will need to be omitted from the book or the data will have to be displayed in a different format (e.g. within the body text/smaller tables).