Accessibility Metadata Display Guide for Digital Publications 2.0
The Accessibility Metadata Display Guide 2.0 provides a framework for how accessibility information should be displayed for digital publications. It is designed to help publishers, distributors, libraries, schools, and procurement officers understand what accessibility metadata means, how to display it consistently, and how to use it for informed decision-making.
This set of guidelines consists of three complementary documents:
Guidelines (Primary Resource)
- Accessibility Metadata Display Guide for Digital Publications 2.0
- This is the main resource and the document most stakeholders should begin with.
- It provides high-level principles and best practices for displaying accessibility metadata in ways that are clear, useful, and understandable to end users.
- Intended for: publishers, libraries, school districts, content platforms, and any organization responsible for communicating accessibility features to readers.
EPUB Techniques (Technical Resource)
- Display Techniques for EPUB Accessibility Metadata 2.0
- This is a technical companion specifically for EPUB publishers and distributors.
- It details how to embed accessibility metadata within EPUB files and how that metadata can be surfaced to users.
- Intended for: IT directors, digital publishing teams, accessibility specialists, and vendors creating EPUB-based educational materials.
ONIX Techniques (Technical Resource)
- Display Techniques for ONIX Accessibility Metadata 2.0
- This companion focuses on ONIX metadata records, widely used in publishing and distribution supply chains.
- It explains how accessibility metadata should be encoded and shared via ONIX to ensure accurate and consistent communication between publishers, resellers, and institutions.
- Intended for: publishers, content aggregators, distributors, school procurement teams, and library systems relying on ONIX feeds.
Why Accessibility Metadata Matters
- Transparency: Provides users (students, parents, educators, institutions) with accurate information about how accessible a digital publication is.
- Procurement: Enables school districts and libraries to make informed purchasing decisions, ensuring materials meet accessibility requirements.
- Compliance: Supports adherence to legal obligations (e.g., ADA, Section 504/508) by ensuring accessible content can be identified and tracked.
- User Empowerment: Allows individuals with disabilities to make informed choices about which materials will work best with their assistive technologies.
How Districts and Institutions Should Use This Resource
- Begin with the Guidelines document to understand the user-facing principles of accessibility metadata display.
- Reference the EPUB Techniques document if your district uses or procures EPUB-based materials.
- Reference the ONIX Techniques document if your procurement workflows rely on ONIX metadata feeds.
- Train staff (CFO, IT Directors, AT Specialists) to recognize accessibility metadata and integrate it into procurement and evaluation processes.
- Encourage publishers and vendors to follow these standards and request evidence of compliance during adoption cycles.
Outcome and Benefits
By adopting the recommendations in the Accessibility Metadata Display Guide 2.0, school districts, publishers, and vendors will:
- Provide transparent, reliable accessibility information to students, educators, and families.
- Build trust with stakeholders by making accessibility information understandable and user-friendly.
- Improve procurement processes by aligning with international accessibility metadata standards.
- Ensure compatibility and consistency across digital publishing supply chains.
