Add accessibility features and check InDesign documents are suitable for accessible output
This tutorial covers general best practice steps for all accessible formats. For a tutorial covering additonal steps on accessible Fixed-Layout EPUBs see Accessible Fixed-Layout ebooks with Circular Software.
Whilst the best advice is to bear accessibility in mind when first creating document and througout the workflow, these features can also be used to adapt existing documents and improve their accessibility.
GreenLight adds to and improves the core set of accessibility features available in InDesign.
Where they already exist, GreenLight speeds up and enhances those features, such as the setting of image descriptions at scale.
In addition, GreenLight adds further useful features such as revealing reading order, easily applying semantic tags and checking colour contrast.
Notably, GreenLight can also check whether any InDesign document has been prepared in the requisite way for various accessible outputs.
In the case of professional print design the effective use of Paragraph, Character and Object styles provides consistency, flexibility and speed.
This is also true for digital exports but additionally text styles are essential for providing the accessibility requirements including heading hierarchy, language and semantic meaning
Where existing text has style overiddes or is not in style, this tool helps to find and then apply to all text sharing the same attributes
This GreenLight tool quickly adds chosen language character styles that can be used to apply to given sections of text within a paragraph.
Where a change of font style is purely for visual design and has no semantic meaning levels, style changes can be applied by the use of InDesign character styles. This tool quikcly introduces any font styles used to the InDesign Character Style panel.
The effective use of styles is an importnat aspect of adding accessibility to InDesign. Following th use of the above tools, this last one can be used to clear out any remaining style overrides from you publication.
Learn more about managing styles in our tutorial Implementing a Design System.
In the case of professional print design the effective use of Paragraph, Character and Object styles provides conssstnecy, flexbility and speed.
This is also true for digital exports but addtionaly text styles are essential for providing the accessibiliy requirments inclusing heading heirarchy, language and semantic meaning
For the best accessibility headings should be applied using Heading tags. Also the order of the headings should be logical. A H1 tag is the top level with a secondary level of heading, an H2 following an H1.
Heading tags apply structure to content and can be used for navigation so should be applied in order. e.g. it is not correct practice to follow an H1 tag with an H3 tag. More info on heading hierarchy on the DAISY Accessible Publishing Knowledge Base.
Heading levels are applied by the use of InDesign paragraph styles and InDesign has a useful feature to view and edit all export tags in one dialog (InDesign Paragraph Styles Panel options > Edit All Export Tags…) More info Edit All Export Tags on EPUB Secrets.
Whilst InDesign doesn't actually apply these heading tags to fixed-layout EPUB… Circular Software does and also has tools and checks to ensure headings are correctly applied.
Learn more about managing styles in our tutorial Implementing a Design System.
When faced with a well designed but complex spread an experienced, sighted reader will quickly make subconscious decisions on the hierarchy and reading order.
Unfortunately, the reading order of an InDesign page bears no relation to the position of the objects on the page or the styling used, but instead is presented in a reverse stacking order. It is not easy to understand the reading order or to influence it without affecting the design.
Circular Software reading order tools give us a way to add reading order by selecting objects in sequence or drawing regions over the page.
Along with text frames, images and their captions, regions and full page artwork are also added into the reading order.
The applied reading order is shown with overlaid non-printing visual markers on the page which can be shared with others for approval.
Once added reading order can be modified.
In some cases we may want to text to appear on the page but not be added to the reading order. e.g. a running head or page number.
Rather than placing alt text descriptions into image metadata, the best descriptions take the context of the image or region on the page along with the intended audience into consideration.
Circular Software tools allow the addition and editing of descriptions to images and regions directly on the InDesign page, which are able to be shared with others, then apply the descriptions in the final output.
Circular Software tools connect with SIDD (Simple Image Descriptions Database) to connect people, documents and images to a lightweight but powerful and centralized source for contextual image descriptions.
For print work, a text size above 18pt means a lower contrast ratio can be used but for fixed-layout ebooks, although text maybe larger in print, a smaller screen size may affect the actual size.
More info and help is available at the WebAIM Contrast Checker page.
GreenLight from Circular Software ensures InDesign files are correct, complete and consistent. GreenLight comes in Custom, Pro and Free versions and we have made GreenLight FREE free of charge to run accessibility checklists. More info here.
For exmaplem, with GreenLight installed, select and run the free GreenLight checklist Accessibility Checks - Fixed-Layout EPUB to check the readiness of the InDesign file or book. Checks include:
