Reading enhances our knowledge and increases our exposure to various topics. Reading is a source of acquiring knowledge, entertainment, and personal growth. Many people cannot access books in their original format for reasons such as visual impairments, language limitations, learning disabilities, etc. But, with technological advancements, different formats of books are available, such as eBooks, audiobooks, etc., to make reading and books more accessible. Even novels and comics can be written in a more accessible format; this way, everyone can enjoy reading and gain from the knowledge books provide.
Is Accessibility Required for Comics?
Novels and comics provide an excellent gateway for kids and adults alike. Comics are a superb mixture of entertainment and learning; everyone should have access to comics, novels, and any form of books. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) recognizes this and understands the importance of making comics and novels accessible.
How to Make Comics or Novels More Accessible
- Provide Audiobooks: Audiobooks are a great way to make books more accessible. By recording the book’s content in a clear, well-paced voice, you can offer your book to a wider audience. Not only people with disabilities but even those who prefer listening over reading can take advantage of this format. Platforms like Audible and Stortel are gaining popularity for their audiobook collection.
- Create eBooks with Adjustable Text: Many devices can download eBooks, so you should ensure that your book is compatible with them to make it accessible. eBooks can change text size, fonts, and page background to suit the reader.
- Use Clear and Simple Language: A book does not need fancy and complex words to be good. Using plain language and easy-to-understand words makes your comics or novels more accessible for people with learning disabilities or foreign language speakers. Even with words, less is always more.
- Supply Large Print Editions: Generally, the font size for a fiction book is 10 to 12 points. While this is ideal for most people to read and economical for page count and printing cost, a few might enjoy reading more if bigger fonts were available. To make your novel more accessible, consider offering large print editions with font sizes between 12 and 16 points.
- Implement a Dyslexia-Friendly Layout: For a dyslexic person, the page layout and font matter a lot. More than the pretty design, a clear page layout with well-defined margins and spacing and Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts like Arial or Verdana make reading very comfortable for people with dyslexia.
- Offer Accessible Digital Formats: To make accessible novels and comics, you need to make the digital versions adaptable to various devices and screen-friendly. Use tagged PDFs, alt texts for graphics and images, etc. The eBook’s structure should be such that assistive technology interprets it quickly.
- Incorporate Braille or Tactile Features: Braille versions of books with tactile features for illustrations can make comics more accessible. Young readers with visual impairments associate tactile images with the corresponding storytelling and benefit significantly from tactile books.
How Continual Engine Can Help You in Remediating Comics or Graphic Novels?
Continual Engine enables you to remediate comics and graphic novels and make them accessible. Continual Engine constantly works to make digital experiences accessible for everyone, everywhere. Continual Engine’s solutions like PREP and Invicta™ help make digital content more accessible.
PREP - PDF & Document Remediation Platform
- Automated Workflows: PREP automates most of the PDF remediation process, saving time and resources.
- Improved Accessibility: All the PDFs and documents created by PREP comply with universal accessibility standards, making them usable for a more diverse audience.
- Reduced Risk: Any risk associated with lawsuits related to inaccessible digital content is reduced since PREP creates accessible content.
Make your Comics Accessible with PREP
Invicta™ - Image Accessibility (Automated Alt Text)
Invicta™ combines human expertise and generative AI to create customized, error-free alt images that are concise and meaningful. It promises the best user experience for everyone.
- Improved Accessibility: Invicta™ makes images accessible to visually impaired users, making digital content more accessible.
- Accurate Descriptions: Invicta™ generates the most accurate and informative descriptions of the text so that the true essence of the image is captured.
- Increased Efficiency: Since Invicta™ automates creating alt text or image descriptions, minimal human interaction is needed. It is quick and saves resources.
Get Accurate and Accessible Alt Text Descriptions with Invicta™.
Conclusion
The joy of reading should be available to all, and by making comics and graphic novels accessible, we can help those with visual impairments and physical or learning disabilities to enjoy reading. Once the process of making eBooks more accessible becomes more efficient and streamlined, the availability will also increase. Continual Engine provides solutions like PREP and Invicta™, which aid in creating more accessible digital content and are efficient, quick, and cost-effective.
