Content Accessibility Resources
Elsevier is committed to making our books, journals, audio and video accessible to people with disabilities. On this page, we share information about how we are going about this, and resources we think you might find helpful.
E-book accessibility
All e-books published from 2025 onwards are at least WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, including alt text image descriptions; video captions, transcripts and audio descriptions; and accessibility metadata.
Our EPUB 3-format e-books are validated using Ace by DAISYopens in new tab/window to meet the EPUB Accessibility 1.1 Specification.
PDFs for frontlist books are tagged according to PDF/UA and validated using the PDF Accessibility Checker (PAC)opens in new tab/window for optimized use with assistive technology.
We have remediated almost 9,000 of our recent and widely used previously published eBooks.
For older eBook titles, we have developed a Books Accessible Format Request service (AFR) that allows users to request that a title be remediated to WCAG 2.2 AA standard.
Elsevier is a Benetech Globally Certified Accessible (GCA)opens in new tab/window Publisher, and our e-books are reviewed each year for this accreditation.
Our latest e-book EPUB and PDF-format Accessibility Conformance Reports (based on the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) are publicly available in Elsevier’s ACR Directory.
Journal accessibility
Our journal titles are published in HTML and PDF formats.
We have a plan in place to make our journals frontlist compliant, with alt text and accessibility metadata being added to journals in phases from the summer of 2026.
For previously published journals, we are launching a Journals Accessible Format Request service (AFR) in July 2026, which will allow readers to request accessibility features to be added to articles for which they currently have access.
Digital learning material accessibility
Our learning resources include both companion materials that support books and independent digital learning platforms designed to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment. These resources, such as Evolve and Sherpath, include interactive content and text-based materials, study tools, and assessments.
Since June 2025, we have been making the companion materials for our newly published books, such as videos, PowerPoint decks, PDFs and Quizzes, in line with the WCAG 2.1 AA standard.
Our digital learning platform content aims to conform to WCAG 2.1 AA standards, with a strategic direction toward WCAG 2.2 AA.
In May 2026, we expanded our Accessible Format Request service to include companion materials. Customers can request for companion materials of previously published books to be made accessible through the same process.
Partnering
We work closely with our publishing partners to support the creation and delivery of accessible content. This includes providing guidance on preparing accessible materials, such as our Accessibility Compendium for Society and Partner Publishersopens in new tab/window, which covers a wide range of content types.
We also collaborate with and support industry organisations and initiatives that advance accessibility across scholarly publishing, including:
Resources
How is Elsevier making content accessible?
Accessible Format Request service for e-books, their companion materials, and for journals.
Elsevier’s statement on the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
Elsevier’s statement on updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II.
Elsevier Library Connect article 'Working together to improve access to scholarly content for people with disabilities'.