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Vital Source Updates Accessibility Features for Ebooks

VitalSource Bookshelf has updated its accessibility support for its collection of e-textbooks.

For all its e-books, the company complies with the section 508 Rehabilitation Act standards and is compatible with screen reading and other accessibility programs. While books are offered in various formats (PDF, epub), it does not make special accessibility versions available.

As part of the update, the company conducted conformance testing on its platforms, like Windows, Mac, and mobile using screen reading programs, like JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver. An independent consulting firm was also hired to test accessibility.

"As a result of rigorous, ongoing accessibility testing of the various Bookshelf platforms, Tech For All Inc can attest that a real asset of the Vital Source approach is its strong commitment to deliver an accessible, rich eBook reading experience which students with disabilities, like their peers, can access from home, in the classroom, and in a mobile environment," said Rick Bowes, Executive Consultant for Tech For All, a universal design consulting firm, in a statement.

About the Author

Stephen Noonoo is an education technology journalist based in Los Angeles. He is on Twitter @stephenoonoo.

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