EBSCO eBooks can be used with a variety of different assistive technologies. Following are our general recommendations for the best reading experience with each type of assistive program:
Screen readers: we recommend reading EBSCO eBooks in our online viewer, or downloaded offline if your preferred screen reader works well with Adobe Digital Editions
Screen magnifiers: we recommend reading EBSCO eBooks in our online viewer, which we’ve designed to work well with screen magnifiers
Text-to-speech tools: we recommend downloading key eBook chapters and opening them with the user’s text-to-speech tool, or copying the text from the viewer into the text-to-speech tool
Color and contrast changes: we recommend reading EBSCO eBooks in our online viewer, or downloading key eBook chapters and opening them with a reader that supports the user’s preferred color and contrast changing tools
EBSCO tests specifically with the JAWS, NVDA, TalkBack, and VoiceOver screen readers for online eBook support. However, a range of screen readers should be able to read the ASCII text, when activated. For eBooks in the EPUB format, any screen reader should work properly, since EPUB was developed with accessibility in mind.
The recommended screen reader and browser combinations are as follows:
When sections or chapters of EBSCO eBooks are saved (or printed) by a user, a PDF document is created. These saved PDF excerpts maintain and deliver the publisher’s original text, which means they can be read by a screen reader or TTS tool and can be searched for a word or phrase. They can also be highlighted and annotated using standard tools. Some use the term OCR to describe these text files, even though they have not been scanned – they are born digital.
EBSCO does not deliver scanned image files of EBSCO eBooks – image files do not deliver text and are not accessible at all. (Scanned image files require transformation using Optical Character Recognition software to create a text layer for consumption by accessibility tools).
| How do I.. | Talkback (Android) and Chrome Steps | VoiceOVer (iOS) and Safari Steps |
| Jump to Full Text - PDF & EPUB | Swipe down to "links." After this is selected, swipe right to the first link "Skip to Main Content." Double tap to activate. | Use the rotor (Two finger twist clockwise) to select "links." After this is selected, swipe right to the first link "Skip to Main Content." Double tap to activate. |
|---|---|---|
| Start reading aloud - PDF & EPUB | Once you are in the main landmark region, swipe down to "default." Swipe right to read blocks of content. | Once you are in the main content heading, swipe down with two fingers |
| Move to the next or previous page - PDF | Swipe down to "controls." Swipe right until you reach Next or Previous Page buttons. | Use the rotor (Two finger twist clockwise) to select "form controls." Swipe down until you reach "go to next page button" or "go to previous page button" |
| Move to the next chapter - EPUB | Swipe down to "controls." Swipe right until you reach Next or Previous Chapter buttons. | Use the rotor (Two finger twist clockwise) to select "form controls." Swipe down until you reach "go to next chapter button" or "go to previous chapter button" |
| Download Full Book | Swipe down to "controls." Swipe right or left (depending on where you are in the page) until you reach Download button. Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. | Use the rotor (Two finger twist clockwise) to select "form controls." Swipe down or up until you reach "Download button." Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. |
| Search within ebook | Swipe down to "controls." Swipe right until you hear the book title + tap to activate. After tapping to activate, swipe right until you hear "Search Within tab." Tap and swipe right until you reach the search box. | Use the rotor (Two finger twist clockwise) to select "headings." Swipe down until you hear the book title and "heading level 2." Double tap to open this control. Swipe right until you hear "Search within tab two of three." Double tap to open. Use the rotor (two finger twist clockwise) to select "form controls." Swipe down until you reach the search this ebook box. |
| Table of Contents (Chapter List) | Swipe down to "controls." Swipe right until you hear the book title + tap to activate. After tapping to activate, swipe right until you hear the "Contents tab." Tap and swipe right until you reach the contents list of links. | Use the rotor (Two finger twist clockwise) to select "headings." Swipe down until you hear the book title and "heading level 2." Double tap to open this control. Swipe right until you hear "Contents tab one of three." Double tap to open. Use the rotor (two finger twist clockwise) to select "lines" Swipe down until you reach the contents links. |
| Download Chapter | Follow the instructions for the Table of Contents. Each content link has a Download Chapter button adjacent to it. | Follow the instructions for the Table of Contents. Use the rotor (Two finger twist clockwise) to select "form controls." Each chapter has a button to download the chapter. |
| Cite, Print, Export Tools | Swipe down to "headings & landmarks." Swipe right until you reach Tools heading. | Use the rotor (Two finger twist clockwise) to select "headings." Swipe down until you reach the Tools level 2 heading. |
Navigating EBSCO eBooks with Screen Readers
The table below contains information about navigating the EBSCO eBook full-text online viewer with desktop and mobile screen readers. Users can find the accessibility navigation guide about searching and browsing EBSCO eBooks on the EBSCOhost website.
EBSCO tests in the following screen reader/browser/operating system combinations:
Note that while the above is the list of officially supported screen readers, this does not mean the product is not compatible with other assistive technology. EBSCO uses the WebAIM screen reader survey to inform our testing priorities.
Tips for Navigating EBSCO eBooks in major screen readers chart
| How do I.. | JAWS and IE11 Steps | JAWS and Chrome Steps | VoiceOver (Mas OS) and Safari Steps |
| Jump to Full Text - PDF & EPUB | From the top of the page, use tab key or down arrow to find the "Skip to Main Content" link. This is the first link in the page. | From the top of the page, use tab key or down arrow to find the "Skip to Main Content" link. This is the first link in the page. | From the top of the page, use tab key or VO(Ctrl + Option) + down arrow to find the "Skip to Main Content" link. This is the first link in the page. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start reading aloud - PDF & EPUB | After reaching the Main Content heading, use the down arrow or JAWS (insert) + down arrow to read the text | After reaching the Main Content heading, use the tab key to read the text | After reaching the Main Content heading, use the right arrow or VO (ctrl + option) + A key to read the text. |
| Move to next or previous page - PDF | From the main content area, use the tab key or down arrow to reach the next and previous page buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key to reach the next and previous page buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key or VO (Ctrl + Option) down arrow to reach the next and previous page buttons. These are immediately after the main content. |
| Move to next chapter - EPUB | From the main content area, use the tab key or down arrow to reach the next and previous chapter buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key o reach the next and previous chapter buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key or VO (Ctrl + Option) down arrow to reach the next and previous chapter buttons. These are immediately after the main content. |
| Download Full Book | Use the b key to find the Download button. Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. | Use the b key to find the Download button. Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. | Use VO (ctrl + option) + command + H to find "Tools" heading. "Download" is the last item in the tools list and can be reached with the tab key. Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. |
| Search within ebook | Use h key to find h3 Search Within heading or h2 "Left Tab" heading. | Use the tab key to find Search Within. | Use VO (ctrl + option) + command + H to find the "Search Within" heading. |
| Table of Contents (Chapter List) | Use h key to find h3 Table Of Contents Chapter heading or h2 "Left Tab" heading | Use tab key or use R key to find the Table of Contents region | Use VO (ctrl + option) + command + H to find the "Contents" heading. |
| Download Chapter | Find the Table of Contents using h3 heading. Each chapter link in the Table of Contents has a Download Chapter button adjacent to the chapter link. | Find the Table of Contents region by using tab key or r key. Select Enter and use the tab key to navigate the chapter links. Each chapter link in the Table of Contents has a Download Chapter button adjacent to the chapter link. |
Find the Table of Contents using h3 heading. Each chapter link in the Table of Contents has a Download Chapter button adjacent to the chapter link. |
| Cite, Print, Export Tools | Use h key to find h2 heading "Tools" | Use h key to find h2 heading "Tools" or use the tab key. | Use VO (ctrl + option) + command + H to find "Tools" heading. |
| How do I.. | JAWS and IE11 Steps | JAWS and Chrome Steps | NVDA and Firefox Steps | VoiceOver (Mas OS) and Safari Steps |
| Jump to Full Text - PDF & EPUB | From the top of the page, use the tab key or down arrow to find the "Skip to Main Content" link. This is the first link on the page. | From the top of the page, use the tab key or down arrow to find the "Skip to Main Content" link. This is the first link on the page. | From the top of the page, use the tab key or down arrow to find the "Skip to Main Content" link. This is the first link on the page. | From the top of the page, use the tab key or VO(Ctrl + Option) + down arrow to find the "Skip to Main Content" link. This is the first link on the page. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start reading aloud - PDF & EPUB | After reaching the Main Content heading, use the down arrow or JAWS (insert) + down arrow to read the text | After reaching the Main Content heading, use the tab key to read the text | After reaching the Main Content heading, use the down arrow or NVDA (insert) + down arrow to read the text | After reaching the Main Content heading, use the right arrow or VO (ctrl + option) + A key to read the text. |
| Move to the next or previous page - PDF | From the main content area, use the tab key or down arrow to reach the next and previous page buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key to reach the next and previous page buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key or down arrow to reach the next and previous page buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key or VO (Ctrl + Option) down arrow to reach the next and previous page buttons. These are immediately after the main content. |
| Move to the next chapter - EPUB | From the main content area, use the tab key or down arrow to reach the next and previous chapter buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key o reach the next and previous chapter buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key or down arrow to reach the next and previous chapter buttons. These are immediately after the main content. | From the main content area, use the tab key or VO (Ctrl + Option) down arrow to reach the next and previous chapter buttons. These are immediately after the main content. |
| Download Full Book | Use the b key to find the Download button. Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. | Use the b key to find the Download button. Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. | Use the b key to find the Download button. Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. | Use VO (ctrl + option) + command + H to find the "Tools" heading. "Download" is the last item in the tools list and can be reached with the tab key. Depending on the book rights, you may need to sign in and use a special reader such as Adobe Digital Editions. |
| Search within ebook | Use the h key to find the h3 Search Within heading or the h2 "Left Tab" heading. | Use the tab key to find Search Within. | Use the h key to find h3 Search Within the heading | Use VO (ctrl + option) + command + H to find the "Search Within" heading. |
| Table of Contents (Chapter List) | Use the h key to find the h3 Table Of Contents Chapter heading or the h2 "Left Tab" heading | Use the tab key or use R key to find the Table of Contents region | Use the h key to find the h3 Table Of Contents Chapter heading. | Use VO (ctrl + option) + command + H to find the "Contents" heading. |
| Download Chapter | Find the Table of Contents using the h3 heading. Each chapter link in the Table of Contents has a Download Chapter button adjacent to the chapter link. | Find the Table of Contents region by using the tab key or r key. Select Enter and use the tab key to navigate the chapter links. Each chapter link in the Table of Contents has a Download Chapter button adjacent to the chapter link. |
Find the Table of Contents using the h3 heading. Each chapter link in the Table of Contents has a Download Chapter button adjacent to the chapter link. | Find the Table of Contents using h3 heading. Each chapter link in the Table of Contents has a Download Chapter button adjacent to the chapter link. |
| Cite, Print, Export Tools | Use the h key to find the h2 heading "Tools" | Use the h key to find the h2 heading "Tools" or use the tab key. | Use the h key to find the h2 heading "Tools" | Use VO (ctrl + option) + command + H to find the "Tools" heading. |
