Apple ebook readers

Apple have three ranges of handheld device - iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad - which run the same software (the iOS operating system). This means they share a lot of the same features, including accessibility and an ebook reader.

Accessibility

The iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone all come preloaded with the following accessibility functions:

VoiceOver: a screen reader.
Zoom: full-screen zoom magnification.
White on Black: displays white text on a black background.
VoiceOver can be connected to a bluetooth braille display to give speech and braille ouput.
An initial review of the iPad's accessibility can be found on the TechKnowMore blog.
Get Started with the iPhone: An Introduction for Blind Users is a useful publication from RNIB. It focuses on the iPhone but much of it applies to the iPad and iPod Touch.

iBooks

The first time you connect the iPad to the App Store you are asked if you want to download iBooks, the ebook reader for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. It comes with a copy of the Window in the Willows.

Benefits

As well as working with the accessibility features mentioned above, iBooks has the following benefits:

10 font sizes, up to point size 20 approximately.
'Zoom' increases font size to point size 80 approximately.
Five font options, including serif and sans serif.
Screen brightness is adjustable.
Content and menus accessible with VoiceOver for all books.
Content can be navigated with VoiceOver in a number of ways such as by character or word.
Content and menus accessible with White on Black and Zoom.