You may have noticed that KDP recently introduced a new question to the content portion of your book listing. It is one that is labeled as “Accessibility Features,” and it prompts you to state whether the images in your ebook are accessible.
For many authors and publishers, this question comes as a surprise and they haven’t known how to answer the question or why it’s even important. So, this article covers what accessibility is, why it matters, and what you can do to improve the accessibility of your books.
What is Accessibility?
When you publish a book, your goal is to reach as many readers as possible. But for millions of people, your book may not be readable at all—unless you’ve taken steps to make it accessible.
In the world of ebooks, accessibility means making sure your file is usable by everyone, including readers with visual, cognitive or physical impairments. In other words, every book should be accessible to people who use screen readers, text-to-speech software, braille displays, or other assistive technologies to access digital content.
Accessibility is just about making sure that images have alt tags, but that accessibility metadata is set correctly. This means, you need to look at language declarations and ensure navigation is properly structured, that landmarks are highlighted, that ARIA roles are defined, and that there is an accessibility declaration within an ebook’s metadata. So, accessibility is something to be aware of no matter what genre you write or whether you have images in your manuscript or not.
But up until now, many independent authors and publishers haven’t given much thought to accessibility. It’s not that they didn’t care—it just wasn’t something they were aware of or knew how to address.
That’s about to change, however.
Why Accessibility Is in the Spotlight Now
In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) went into full effect. This legislation is designed to improve access to digital products and services—including ebooks—across the European Union. While the Act technically applies to providers operating within the EU, it’s already having ripple effects globally.
Here’s what that means for you:
- Platforms like KDP are paying attention. Amazon has already started asking publishers whether their EPUB files meet accessibility standards, and that information will be displayed in the product details for each book.
- Retailers and distributors may require compliance. As accessibility becomes a bigger issue, online bookstores and aggregators may begin requiring accessibility validation for EPUB files.
- Readers and institutions are watching. Libraries, universities and accessibility-conscious readers are more likely to choose titles that meet recognized accessibility standards.
As a publisher, we’ve been contacted by professors and universities multiple times, inquiring about books for students that require accessible content for their coursework. And thankfully, we’ve been able to deliver ebooks that met these students’ needs.
If your ePub file isn’t accessible, you may not be legally penalized if you’re outside the EU—but you could miss out on sales opportunities, partnerships or even reader loyalty. That’s a cost worth considering.
What Makes an ePub Accessible?
An accessible ePub meets certain technical and formatting criteria that allow assistive technologies to interpret the text accurately and meaningfully.
Here are a few examples of what that includes:
- Alt text for images so screen readers can describe them
- Proper heading structures for navigation
- Consistent language declarations so pronunciation tools function correctly
- Readable fonts and contrast
- Metadata tags that signal accessibility features
- Logical reading order for assistive technologies
If this sounds complicated… you’re not alone.
“But I’m Just One Person—Do I Really Need to Worry About This?”
If you’re a self-published author or small independent press, it’s easy to assume accessibility is something only the big players need to worry about.
But here’s the truth: you don’t need to be a large publisher to care about doing the right thing. Making your ebook more accessible helps more people read your books. And accessibility isn’t just a legal standard. It’s a reflection of your professionalism and the care you put into your work.
I tend to use text-to-speech a lot when I read ebooks, simply because I already have vision problems and it allows me to rest my eyes, while still enjoying a story. But my enjoyment can easily be disrupted when the device starts reading in French (as one ebook did earlier today while I was reading) or if it announces “image” every time it encounters a chapter embellishment.
Doing the right thing doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming to get started. Even small improvements can go a long way toward demonstrating your professionalism and the care you have for your books.
How We Can Help
At Emerald Lake Books, we’ve spent years building accessibility into our publishing workflow. Now, we’re offering a new service to help other authors and publishers ensure their books are accessible too—without needing to become ePub experts themselves.
Whether you just want to know where your file stands, need help fixing specific issues, or want someone to take care of the whole process for you, we’ve got you covered.
The Bottom Line
Accessibility is no longer optional. It’s becoming an essential part of responsible, modern publishing—and it’s one of the most meaningful ways you can serve your readers.
The good news? You don’t have to do it alone.
Whether you’re releasing your first ebook or maintaining a large backlist, we’re here to help you make your work more usable, inclusive and compliant—with as little stress as possible.
