The publishing landscape is incredibly diverse.
With accessible publishing, books can reach readers of all abilities, including those with visual, cognitive, or physical impairments. Here at Imprint Digital, we believe that inclusive design is vital in the push to make literature available to everyone, rather than a mere trend.
So, whether you’re an aspiring self-publisher or you’re working with a printing partner, creating books that are accessible (such as incorporating large print for the visually impaired) can expand an audience and demonstrate a serious commitment to inclusivity. In this guide, we’ll explore the practical tips necessary for inclusive book design, helping you create accessible publications that will resonate with all readers.
The Importance of Accessible Publishing
Accessible publishing is not just about compliance. It’s about making sure that every reader can enjoy your book, no matter what their abilities are. According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), there are over 2 million people in the UK currently living with sight loss.
As a result, if you want to make your work more accessible, large print for the visually impaired is essential. Beyond visual impairments, accessible design also supports readers who have dyslexia, motor disabilities, and/or cognitive challenges.
Authors and publishers who prioritise accessibility can:
- Reach a broader audience, including communities that might be underserved.
- Enhance the reader experience with clear, user-friendly formats.
- Align with legal standards, including the UK Equality Act 2010, which encourages accessible formats in public services.
- Build a reputation for being inclusive and upholding a sense of social responsibility.
At Imprint Digital, we are passionate about helping authors embrace accessible publishing. Now, let’s look at the steps you can take to get there.
Tips to Make Your Published Book More Accessible
1: Use Large Print for Visually Impaired Readers
When it comes to enhancing accessibility, offering large print for visually impaired readers will go a long way. Large print books will use larger font sizes that improve readability for those who are partially sighted. Here’s how you can implement it:
- Font Size: Aim for a minimum of 16-point font, ideally within the 18-22 range, as per RNIB guidelines. Standard books typically use 10-12 points, for comparison.
- Font Style: Sans-serif fonts, like Arial, Verdana, or Helvetica, are best. They’re easier to read due to their clean, uniform lines, whereas decorative or serif fonts like Times New Roman can blur.
- Line Spacing: 1.5 or 2.0 line spacing will reduce any visual clutter and improve tracking for a reader.
- Contrast: Make sure there is high contrast between the text and the background. Black text on white paper is great, grey text on off-white paper is not.
Imprint Digital offers large print for partially sighted readers as part of our printing services, ensuring books meet accessibility standards. Our short-run printing can produce large print editions in sizes like A4 that will accommodate larger text without compromising a work’s page count.
2: Optimise Layout for Readability
It’s important to make your layout clear and consistent. For readers with visual or cognitive impairments, designs that minimise confusion and enhance navigation can be very beneficial.
- Consistent Formatting: Use uniform headings, subheadings, and paragraph styles. Don’t deviate from the system you’ve already established.
- Wide Margins: Leave enough white space (preferably one inch at least) to avoid crowding the page, as this will make it easier for the partially sighted reader to focus.
- Avoid Complex Layouts: Where possible, steer clear of multi-column formats, justified text, or dense text blocks, as these can be hard to follow. Left-aligned text is best for readability.
- Page Numbers and Headers: Place your page numbers in consistent locations and in large, bold font for easy reference.
Contact our friendly team to see how to balance aesthetics with functionality and accessibility.
3: Choose Accessible Binding & Paper
The physical qualities of your book will also impact how accessible it is. Binding and paper choices can make it easier for readers with visual impairments.
- Binding: Opt for flexible binding methods like PUR binding, which allows a book to lie flat without causing damage to its spine, which in turn helps readers with limited dexterity. You can learn more about our book binding options, including PUR vs perfect binding.
- Paper Type: Use matte, non-glossy paper to reduce glare. A minimum paper weight of 80gsm will make it durable without excessive bulk.
- Book Size: Larger formats like A5 (210x148mm) or Royal (234x156mm) work well for large print editions, as they provide space for bigger text and images. You can check out our standard book sizes guide for recommendations.
When you implement these choices, you make your book both durable and user-friendly, all while aligning with the best practices of accessible publishing.
4: Alt Text & Image Descriptions
If your book has images, charts, or illustrations, alt (alternative) text is essential for readers who are using screen readers or braille displays. This is particularly important when it comes to ebooks, but it also applies to print books that have digital comparisons:
- Alt Text: Include concise and informative descriptions of the images in your work (e.g., “A bar chart that shows UK books sales by genre in 2025”). To keep it compatible with screen readers, it will need to be under 125 characters – including spaces.
- Captions: Have descriptive captions below the images in print editions to assist partially sighted readers.
- Simplify Graphics: If you can, avoid complex visuals that are hard to describe, and use high-contrast colours.
Our self-publishing graphics include ebook formatting with support for creating alt text, helping you meet accessibility standards. Contact us for guidance on digital accessibility.
5: Support Readers with Dyslexia & Cognitive Impairments
There’s more to accessible publishing than making your work readable. To make it inclusive of those with dyslexia or cognitive challenges, you can include:
- Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts: Fonts like Dyslexic or Comic Sans have weighted bottoms that help readers distinguish between the letters, which reduces reading errors.
- Short Sentences & Paragraphs: Try breaking your text into smaller chunks to improve comprehension. Aim for sentences under 20 words and paragraphs of three to five sentences.
- Clear Language: Plain English is best, preferably without jargon or complex phrases.
- Visual Cues: Bullet points, numbered lists, and bold keywords can all go a long way in highlighting key information for readers.
Implement these adjustments and make your book more inclusive without sacrificing its quality. Our professional typesetting guide can ensure the formatting is dyslexia-friendly – speak to our team to find out more.
6: Offer Multiple Formats
Accessible publishing means providing options that suit different needs:
- Large Print Editions: Versions with large print for visually impaired readers can be produced alongside standard editions.
- Ebooks: Reflowable ebooks allow readers to adjust the font size, spacing, and contrast on devices like Kindle.
- Audiobooks: Increasingly popular, audiobooks cater to visually impaired readers and those who have general difficulties with reading. While we at Imprint Digital focus on print, we recommend looking into this avenue of the publishing process.
- Braille: For print runs that are targeting blind readers, consider partnering with braille printing services.
If you offer multiple formats of your book, it will be more likely to reach diverse audiences. Our packages include print and ebook distribution to over numerous retailers. Explore your options on our instant quote page.
7: Test Your Book for Accessibility
Before you start the publishing process, test your book to see if it meets accessibility standards:
- User Testing: If you know readers who have visual or cognitive impairments, share proofs with them and gather their feedback. Organisations like RNIB sometimes offer testing services that you can utilise.
- Accessibility Checkers: In the case of ebooks, use tools like EPUBCheck or Ace by DAISY to verify your compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
- Proof Copies: Review your digital or physical proofs for clarity in font, contrast, and navigation choices. Our packages include digital proof copies that streamline this process.
Testing is the only way to see if your book is truly inclusive. Contact our team for advice.
8: Market Your Accessible Book
If you want people to know that your book is accessible, you’ll need to promote it in a way that emphasises its inclusive features.
- Highlight Features: In your book description and marketing, emphasise that you have large print for the partially sighted or a dyslexia-friendly design.
- Targeted Outreach: Reach out to organisations like RNIB or dyslexia support groups to promote your book.
- Social Media: Share posts on social media platforms to show your commitment to accessible publishing, using relevant hashtags or forums.
- Reviews: Send copies to accessibility-focused reviewers or bloggers.
Our team can help you reach these audiences.
Need Help With Making Your Book Accessible?
Accessible publishing is a powerful way to make your book inclusive, helping readers of any and all abilities to enjoy your work.
By incorporating large print for the visually impaired, optimising your layouts, and offering multiple formats, you can create a book that’s both impactful and inclusive. At Imprint Digital, we’re committed to helping authors achieve this through our high-quality printing and self-publishing packages.
Ready to create your accessible book? Request an instant quote or contact us to discuss your options and get the ball rolling.
Accessible Publishing FAQs
What is accessible publishing?
Accessible publishing is the process of designing your book to be usable for readers with disabilities, such as visual, cognitive, or motor impairments. It uses features like large print, dyslexia-friendly fonts, and ebooks.
Why should I use large print for visually impaired readers?
Large print (16-22 point font) will improve your book’s readability for people who have low vision, making it accessible to over 2 million UK readers with sight loss.
How do I create a large print book?
Use a minimum 16-point sans-serif font, high-contrast text, and matte paper in sizes like A4. Check out our book printing services for large print options.
What fonts are best for accessible publishing?
Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Open Dyslexic are ideal for readability, especially for visually impaired or dyslexic readers.
Can I publish an accessible ebook and print book together?
Yes. Our packages include ebook and print distribution with accessibility features like reflowable text and alt text. Get an instant quote here.
How do I test my book for accessibility?
Share proofs with readers with disabilities, use tools like EPUBCheck for ebooks, or review physical proofs for clarity. Contact us for support.