Accessibility Guidelines for our Publishing Partners

At Perlego, we are committed to providing an accessible learning experience for all, including those with disabilities. As part of this commitment — and in alignment with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) — we expect our publishing partners to work towards ensuring their content meets accessibility standards. The following guidelines outline Perlego’s accessibility expectations for new and legacy content provided by our publishing partners.

General Accessibility Requirements

We aim to have all content on the Perlego platform be compatible with assistive technologies and inclusive of diverse learning needs. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Text Structure: Content should use logical heading structures, paragraphs, and lists, enabling easy navigation for screen reader users.
• Image Descriptions: All images and visual content should include descriptive alt text to support users who rely on screen readers.
• Readable Formats: We recommend providing content in tagged PDF or ePub formats to ensure compatibility with various assistive devices and allow text reflow.
• Navigation: Clear navigation elements, such as linked tables of contents and chapter headings, should be present to enhance the learning experience.

Accessibility Metadata and Transparency

To comply with the EAA and provide transparency to users, each book on Perlego must include:

• General Accessibility Status: A high-level indication of whether the book meets accessibility standards (e.g., "Accessible," "Partially Accessible").
• Accessibility Features: Detailed descriptions of supported features, such as screen reader compatibility, alt text availability, and reflowable text.
• Known Limitations: Disclosure of any gaps in accessibility, such as missing alt text or unstructured navigation.
• Support Options: Information on how users can request alternative formats or report accessibility issues.

This metadata helps users make informed decisions and ensures compliance with the EAA’s transparency requirements.

New Content Requirements (Post-June 2025)

As of June 2025, all newly published content submitted to Perlego is expected to meet full accessibility requirements as defined by the EAA. This includes, but is not limited to, accessible text formatting, image descriptions, and compatibility with screen readers.

Recommended Format: We strongly encourage our publishing partners to adopt the latest ePub formats (ePub 3 or later), which offer improved accessibility features. These formats are optimised for screen reader compatibility, reflowable text, structured navigation, and multimedia accessibility, making them highly suitable for educational materials.

Legacy Content and Backlist Expectations

For previously published content, we understand that accessibility remediation may take time, particularly for partners with large or historical catalogues. Therefore:

• Accessibility Audit: We recommend conducting an audit of your existing catalogue to identify accessibility gaps and create a phased remediation plan.
• Prioritisation of High-Demand Titles: We ask that you focus initial remediation efforts on high-use or popular titles (the top 20% of your catalogue) to maximise the accessibility impact for students.
• Incremental Improvements: While it may not be feasible to make all legacy content accessible by June 2025, we encourage ongoing efforts to increase accessible materials over time.
• Transparency for Users: Provide metadata for legacy content detailing known accessibility gaps and features, ensuring users can make informed choices.

Flexibility for Micro and Small Enterprises

The EAA introduces flexibility for smaller publishers, particularly for those designated as micro and small enterprises:

• Micro-enterprises (with fewer than 10 employees and a turnover below €2 million): May not be held to the same accessibility requirements as larger publishers, especially for legacy content. Should prioritise making new content accessible starting in June 2025 but may not be expected to make their entire backlist accessible within that timeframe.
• Small Enterprises (with fewer than 50 employees and a turnover below €10 million): Are encouraged to meet accessibility standards as much as possible, especially for new content. May leverage the 'disproportionate burden clause' if meeting these requirements presents a significant financial or technical challenge.

For these smaller businesses, the EAA may allow an extended compliance timeline or reduced scope for legacy content, especially when compliance poses a substantial burden. However, accessibility is generally expected for all new publications post-2025, and these publishers may need to provide accessible alternatives upon request when legacy materials are not accessible.

Accessibility Statements and Transparency

To foster an inclusive user experience, we recommend all publishers have an Accessibility Statement, discoverable on their website outlining the accessibility status of their materials and detailing any plans to improve accessibility. Transparency enables Perlego users to understand and anticipate the accessibility of content on our platform.

Moving Forward Together

Perlego is committed to supporting our publishing partners in their accessibility efforts. We encourage open communication regarding challenges or questions around compliance, and we are here to collaborate on making educational content accessible to all.

Thank you for your partnership and commitment to inclusive education.