Is 2025 the year accessible publishing finally becomes “accessible” to publishers of all sizes?
In 2025, accessibility has become a more urgent priority for publishers all over the world. While many publishers have already invested significant resources to make their digital products accessible to people with disabilities, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) extends that mandate to all publishers offering ebooks and digital products in the EU. Similar requirements are expected soon in other regions.
Accessible publishing also goes to the core of this industry. We are, after all, in the business of getting books and information into the hands of as many readers as possible.
Up to now, limited resources have been one obstacle to creating accessible books. However, accessibility mandates are coming into effect just as artificial intelligence is increasingly capable and affordable.
At Veristage, here are a few ways our customers are using our AI tools to improve their accessible publishing processes.
Alt Text and Image Descriptions
Our alt text tool is among the most-used document tools in Insight. Writing alt text and image descriptions is a core requirement for accessible ebooks. It’s also a time-consuming task that can be quickly handled by AI.
Large language models have been capable of writing alt text for standalone images for some time now. Today’s AI models have improved visual capabilities that go beyond understanding JPGs and PNGs.
In Insight, our visual AI processing can recognize a wide range of visual elements in a book, including:
- Images
- Text within images
- Charts and graphs
- Tables
- Math equations
- Line and vector drawings
Using visual AI in combination with a suite of digital tools and processes, Insight can:
- Generate alt text and long descriptions in multiple formats
- Tailor this text to a particular book and target audience
Tasks that traditionally take hours or days to complete can now be done in less than an hour.
Two More Accessibility-Related Use Cases
As we build more robust accessibility tools, our customers are finding creative ways to use Insight to make their content more accessible right now. Below are two examples.
Example 1: Plain Language
As accessibility in publishing gains wider attention, plain language translations are increasingly part of this movement. Plain language makes information accessible to people with cognitive disabilities and learning differences by using shorter sentences and paragraphs, simpler words, and clear structure—while preserving the original meaning.
For full-length books: Insight’s AI adaptation tools can generate a plain language version, which can then be reviewed and edited. Though plain language versions might not be suitable for every book, some forward-thinking authors and publishers are exploring how to better serve readers who would benefit from this format.
For scholarly and academic content: Insight automates the creation of plain language summaries, which make the technical and scientific content understandable for non-specialist audiences.
Example 2: Indexes for Navigating Complex Content
A well-structured index can be a helpful way for users to navigate, search, and understand the structure of a book or long document. Like alt text, a good index takes time and often needs subject matter expertise.
As AI becomes better at processing larger amounts of information and following precise instructions, creating a well-structured book index has become a real-world use case for AI.
While you’re not likely to get production-ready results by uploading a book into the front end of ChatGPT and asking for an index, Insight’s book index tool was specifically built for this task. It handles the multi-step process necessary to create various types of indexes.
What’s Next on the Roadmap?
Alt text just the starting point for making accessible publishing a practical and affordable reality for publishers of all sizes.
Agentic AI—which combines large language models with digital tools that can independently complete complex tasks—is quickly evolving. Soon, specialized tools will help with more steps in accessible publishing processes, including:
- Analyzing documents to identify headings, subheadings, and logical reading order
- Inserting semantic tags for headings, lists, and tables into EPUBs
- Automated accessibility checking and metadata generation
FAQ: AI and Accessible Publishing
Expand the read the full FAQ
What makes an ebook “accessible”?
An accessible ebook is one that can be used by everyone, including people who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers.
Text Structure and Navigation:
- Semantic Markup: Use of headings, lists, tables, and other structural elements so screen readers can interpret the content hierarchy.
- Table of Contents: Must be machine-readable and navigable.
- Landmarks and Navigation Points: Allow users to jump to chapters, sections, or other key points.
Alternative Text for Non-Text Content:
- Alt Text: All images, charts, and graphics must have meaningful alternative text descriptions.
- Long Descriptions: Complex images (e.g., infographics) require extended descriptions.
Text Reflow and Resizing:
- Reflowable Text: Users must be able to change font size, spacing, and colors without losing content or functionality.
- No Fixed Layouts: Avoid layouts that prevent text from adapting to different screen sizes or user preferences (unless the content requires it for meaning, e.g., comics).
Color and Contrast:
- Sufficient Contrast: Text and background colors must have enough contrast for readability.
- No Color-Only Information: Information should not be conveyed by color alone.
Keyboard Accessibility:
- All interactive elements (links, buttons, forms) must be operable using a keyboard alone.
Device and Assistive Technology Compatibility:
- The ebook format (preferably EPUB 3) must work with screen readers, text-to-speech, braille displays, and other assistive tools.
Metadata:
- Accessibility metadata must be included, describing the accessibility features and limitations of the ebook.
No DRM Barriers:
- Digital Rights Management (DRM) must not prevent assistive technologies from accessing content.
What is the European Accessibility Act and how does it apply to publishing?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) mandates that products and services, including digital publications like e-books and e-journals, be accessible to individuals with disabilities across the European Union.
An accessible ebook under the EAA is one that can be read, navigated, and understood by people with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies like screen readers, braille displays, or alternative input devices.
As of June 28, 2025, all new ebooks sold in the EU must be fully accessible to people with disabilities. Backlist titles must be compliant by June 2030.
This legal requirement, combined with a growing ethical and commercial interest in reaching the widest possible audience, has made accessibility a top priority for publishers.
How can AI help publishers create accessible books?
Publishers are using AI right now for tasks like writing alt text and image descriptions, generating indexes, and even creating plain language translations.
As AI becomes more capable, further steps that can be automated by AI include creating navigable semantic structures, adding semantic tags, automating accessibility checks, and generating accessibility metadata.
For frontlist workflows, using an AI tool like Insight early in the publishing process can make it easier and more cost-effective to ensure every new title is accessible from day one.
Does using AI replace the need for human oversight?
No. The best approach is a combination of AI efficiency and human expertise. AI does the heavy lifting, handling the initial work with speed and scale. The crucial step is human review to ensure quality, context, and accuracy.
What is Veristage’s Insight platform?
Insight is an AI platform built specifically to support the entire publishing process, from manuscript evaluation and metadata to production, marketing, and sales.
Our secure and scalable infrastructure lets publishers of all types and sizes use AI to support their workflows.
Explore what Insight can do here.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact the Veristage team to see how our Insight AI platform can help you with accessibility and enhance your publishing workflows.
Hannah Johnson is the Chief Customer Officer at Veristage, which builds AI tools for publishers. She has two decade of experience in publishing and works closely with Veristage’s customers to help integrate AI into their workflows.