The accessible future of research: from checklists to cultural change

To create a truly inclusive research ecosystem we must leverage technology, prioritise metadata and embrace shared responsibility

FROM CLARIVATE

Digital accessibility isn’t a feature – it’s a foundation. With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) now in force, digital content providers must meet new legal standards to ensure access for all.

For higher education and scholarly publishing, this marks a significant shift: ebooks are a key part of the regulations, and platforms and book content must integrate accessible formats like EPUB and standards such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2. But to  support real inclusion, accessibility must be embedded from the outset, not added on as an afterthought.

A genuinely inclusive research ecosystem requires more than compliance — it calls for cultural change. Removing barriers and expanding participation in research, teaching and learning requires collaboration across the higher education sector, with institutions, service providers, product suppliers and other key stakeholders working together to drive meaningful change. 

Shifts in accessibility in higher education

Accessibility has impacts across a wide spectrum – influencing physical health and mental health and shaping educational outcomes. 

According to data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), 18% of UK students in the 2023/24 cohort reported a known disability (a 2% increase on the previous year). Yet only 77% of those students who requested support had a full support plan in place. In the US, the number of students with disabilities has increased by 10% but just 21% graduate from college, compared to 38% of students without a reported disability. In the EU, 10% of students report having a disability underscoring that this is a shared challenge across multiple higher education systems.

Improvements have been made to enhance accessibility within higher education institutions, with many now incorporating technological tools, including text-to-speech apps and audio-enhancing receivers, to make content more accessible to those with hearing and visual impairments. 72% of faculty and 70% of staff at higher education institutions in the U.S. have access to accessibility training, supporting efforts to build a more knowledge-driven and inclusive culture. 

Legislation across the globe, such as The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018; the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require higher education institutions to ensure that their online services are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes websites, web applications, software and digital documents. Similarly, the European Accessibility Act, which came into effect on 28th June, 2025, now brings digital books into scope, meaning publishers and service providers must evolve their offerings to meet accessibility requirements. While journals are not currently covered, the inclusion of books marks a major shift for the academic publishing landscape.

Recent studies have highlighted persistent accessibility gaps in academic publishing, particularly in journals, with ‘most open access journals overlook[ing]’ key features including alt text and colour contrast in their submission guidelines. Alt text is essential for screen readers to interpret visual content, so this omission alone excludes many students from fully accessing the research they need throughout their academic journey. 

The same need for accessible design applies to books. With books now included under accessibility regulations, EPUB is fast becoming the preferred format. Unlike static PDFs, EPUBs are reflowable, adaptable across devices and support key accessibility features such as alt text, screen reader compatibility, and adjustable text and colour settings. By prioritising accessibility from the outset, publishers and service providers can make academic content more usable, discoverable and inclusive.

Inaccessible content costs and the benefits of change

Better accessibility benefits everyone – not just people with disabilities but anyone with different preferences on how they read and digest content. Some of the benefits include:

• Attracting individuals with diverse talents and skill sets
• Boosting productivity and increasing innovation, with more diverse organizations usually performing better than their peers
• Improving engagement and wellbeing among staff and students through inclusive practices
• Enhancing communication and connection with multiple stakeholder groups
• Strengthening reputation, credibility and institutional standing

Share the responsibility for better accessibility

Many libraries and institutions have already made significant progress in advancing digital accessibility – from aligning platforms and content with WCAG, to hiring accessibility specialists, embedding inclusive procurement policies and working closely with publishers and vendors. As standards and technologies continue to evolve, sustaining and building on this progress is essential. A “born accessible” approach – designing content with accessibility in mind from the outset – can help ensure new materials are usable by all. This includes adding alt text to online and social posts, providing captions for video and ensuring compatibility across devices. 

Resources such as the ALA’s Digital Accessibility Handbook for Libraries, IFLA Guidelines for Making Libraries Accessible for People with Disabilities and Libraries Connected Key Digital Skills offer sector-specific guidance for eliminating barriers and strengthening inclusive practice, while the ALA accessibility hub connects library professionals with broader tools, communities and advocacy resources. Clarivate is committed to supporting these efforts  by collaborating to ensure that our platforms, metadata and content work for everyone.

Technology providers have an important role to play in supporting the strategies that libraries and institutions are already leading. At Clarivate, we’re committed to embedding accessibility across our platforms and services in ways that complement the priorities of our partners. We continue to invest in inclusive design, metadata integrity and accessibility best practices, in close collaboration with institutions and publishers. 

We sponsor colleagues to achieve certification through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), and work with external accessibility experts to strengthen our approach. Ebook Central, our popular ebook platform, for example, uses EPUB as the default reading format to improve screen reader compatibility, aligns with WCAG 2.2 standards, and incorporates AI-powered tools, such as the Ebook Central Research Assistant, to help users navigate and surface key information. These innovations aim not just to meet compliance, but to improve the user experience for everyone.

Metadata also plays a critical role in ensuring that digital resources are discoverable and usable by everyone, including those with disabilities. We work closely with publishers to offer multiple metadata formats and delivery methods and collaborate with partners to cross-check and enhance metadata quality and reliability. These efforts help ensure that accessible content can be accurately surfaced in discovery services and library catalogues — supporting better visibility and usability. Via LibCentral, full record pages now expose accessibility metadata and advanced filters allow users to identify screen reader-compatible content. Further enhancements are planned, including the introduction of a native text-to-speech feature to the Ebook Central platform.

Libraries are the starting point for collaboration

Building lasting accessibility requires engagement at every level — involving your stakeholders can help embed better practices across your organisation:

• Train and support researchers, staff and students to create more accessible content
• Be transparent and provide clear and concise communication around accessibility
• Conduct regular audits to assess and improve accessibility
• Equip libraries with accessible resources and technology – often, existing suppliers already offer compliant solutions
• Partner with experts for more strategic enablement across the technology lifecycle
• Share knowledge by networking and consulting with the wider community – valuable industry-specific insights are available from webinars, events, infographics, videos, blogs and podcasts from service providers, publishers and member bodies
• Review and update teaching and learning processes to include flexible timings and inclusive strategies
• Prioritise sustainability by embedding digital accessibility into long-term inclusion and diversity initiatives 

The way forward – a shared responsibility

Accessibility is not the responsibility of one group alone. It requires a shared effort across institutions, educators, service providers, and publishers. This shared responsibility ensures that no single group is overwhelmed and that accessibility is integrated into every stage of course design and delivery, research and support. By working together, stakeholders can ensure that accessibility is not just an afterthought but a fundamental part of the academic experience.

To create a truly inclusive research ecosystem we must leverage technology, prioritise metadata and embrace shared responsibility. By doing so, we can ensure that research is impactful and accessible to all, paving the way for a more equitable future in higher education.

For further tools, insights and support, explore our accessibility resources.