Accessible reading

Less than five percent of book titles published in the UK each year are produced in an alternative format to standard print. This means that the three million people with sight loss or print reading disability have a severely reduced access to reading.

To give people with sight loss the best possible choice from the narrow range that is available it is vital for librarians, teachers and volunteers to be aware of all the alternative formats and where to find them.

There is no single alternative to standard print that meets the needs of everyone with sight loss. The different causes and conditions of sight loss as well as people’s individual preferences have led to a range of equipment and alternative formats to meet their needs.

The alternatives have been developed over time, mainly through the work of voluntary and charitable organisations. This section is about finding books in these formats.