Anthem Press is committed to publishing accessible content. Accessible content refers to digital or physical materials that are designed, created and structured in a way that ensures all individuals, including those with disabilities, can access, understand and engage with the information.
All our books are made available in ePDF and reflowable ePUB 3 formats which comply with WCAG AA standards wherever possible. Please refer to our guidance below on how to ensure your manuscript complies with European Accessibility Act (EAA) regulations. If you require any further information about accessibility, please write to info@anthempress.com.
A description of each visual element needs to be tagged and formatted within the eBook file so that it can be read out by the screen readers of visually impaired eBook users. Alt text should be as short and concise as possible (about 30 words is ideal) as some screen readers have a character limit that prevents longer descriptions being read aloud in their entirety. Detailed guidance on preparing alt text is provided further down this page.
Please follow these guidelines to submit your chapter to meet the screen readers requirements:
Subheadings should be clearly identified using numbered or lettered headings within the text. For example, ‘Chapter One’ may contain an introduction section labelled ‘1.1 Introduction’ or ‘A. Introduction’.
Please ensure the tables, figures and boxes are clearly labelled with numbers and titles, for example, ‘Figure 1.1: Map of the Arctic region, highlighting key coastal areas’, to enable easy navigation.
Please use Microsoft Word endnote/footnote tool to insert the endnotes and footnotes to ensure they are properly linked and easily cross-referenced.
Any boxes or lengthy quotes should ideally be introduced in the preceding text, for example, ‘Box 1.1 explains the concept of …’ or ‘The author’s explanation about the theory is outlined below’.
Ensure rows and columns have clear headers, making the data easily understandable. Please refrain from using multiple header rows, as well as merged, split, empty or large cells, in any tables, as screen readers cannot navigate these effectively. For detailed guidance, please contact your editorial manager if you are unsure about any tables.
Please note that tables that do not comply with accessibility guidelines will be converted into figures and will require alt text. If a table is too long or complex to be converted into a figure, it may need to be omitted from the book or reformatted into body text or smaller tables.
Describe the image as clearly as possible: Please avoid repeating information provided in the text or caption. It should focus on describing the important visual elements of the image so it can be visualised properly.
Use different content for caption and alt text: Screen readers will read the caption before the alt text, so do not use the same information in the caption. The alt text should provide specific details of the image rather than a general summary.
Images with text: When an image contains text, it is best practice to include the wording in the alt text, unless the text is already provided in the caption. If the image is intended to highlight specific aspects (such as handwriting style or document age), only the relevant details should be included in the alt text.
Avoid using AI-generated alt text: AI-generated alt text may not fully capture the context or specific details relevant to the content or discussion within the surrounding text. It is best to write it manually, keeping in mind the purpose of the image, its relevance to the content and the needs of the audience.
Focus on function and meaning over appearance: The alt text should convey the essential function and significance of the image rather than detailing its aesthetic elements, such as arrow shapes or colours. Avoid including file names or URLs.
Complex images: If your book includes a complex image, such as a detailed diagram, it may require a description longer than 30 words. In such cases, a long description may be more suitable than standard alt text. If needed, please consult your editorial manager for guidance.
There are many useful resources online to guide creating alt text which might contradict with our guidelines suggested above. We recommend following these guidelines to meet our production processes. If you would prefer a different alt text requirement, please consult with your editorial manager.
For examples of alt text, see the Alt Text Samples PDF.