Born Accessible

Meet the needs of all readers by ensuring your books are accessible from the start.

Accessible eBooks Matter

Everybody deserves the opportunity to read. Yet, too many are excluded from reading due to a disability. A blind reader cannot see a book’s text; a student with dyslexia cannot decode words on a page; a person with cerebral palsy cannot hold a book or turn its pages. Born Accessible helps content creators produce ebooks that are accessible to all readers and helps eBook purchasers procure content that works for all readers. Born Accessible titles adhere to international accessibility standards and to Benetech’s specific criteria.
Young blind student wearing headphones and holding a smartphone.

What is Born Accessible?

Born Accessible is an initiative of the nonprofit tech company Benetech, who also operates Bookshare, the largest library of accessible ebooks in the world. Benetech believes the time is right for the publishing world to seize this era of opportunity. We believe that all content born digital can—and should—be born accessible. We understand how to navigate this aspect of content creation and distribution—both by identifying the possibilities and working to resolve the challenges.

Digital content and technology have made it possible to get more materials to more people in more ways, making the dream of every book for every reader, every day a reality. Making that content accessible must be a priority. There are millions of readers that can’t use physical books due to print disabilities such as blindness or low vision, mobility impairments, or learning disorders like dyslexia. For print disabled readers, ebook technology makes purchasing and fully utilizing accessible books and other content possible.

Tremendous progress has been made on making books which are primarily text accessible from the start, but as digital content becomes richer and more complex, the challenge of making it born accessible will require broader partnerships and technological innovation. Will you join us in our mission to create a born accessible world? Choose one of the pathways below to learn how.

“Benetech’s Global Certified Accessible program makes it possible for publishers to meet the huge need for accessible ebooks. I don’t see how we could have done it without them.” -David Mitchell, Director of Business Management, Guilford Publications

Get Started

  • Certification for Digital Publishers

    Let us help you create accessible content from the start. Learn more.
  • Certification for Conversion Vendors

    Learn how to create accessible content from the start. Learn more.

Help create a born accessible world