ScienceDirect and the European Accessibility Act

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a European Union directive (EU 2019/882) designed to make key digital services more accessible to people with disabilities. It came into effect on 28 June 2025 and requires platforms such as ScienceDirect to ensure they are accessible, with a focus on e-commerce and digital publications.

Elsevier’s commitment to accessibility

At Elsevier, accessibility is not just a legal requirement; it’s a key part of how we support researchers, librarians, and students around the world. We are committed to creating digital experiences that are inclusive and usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. You can read more about our company-wide approach in Elsevier's European Accessibility Act statement.

Overview of ScienceDirect’s compliance with the EAA

ScienceDirect is committed to full compliance with the EAA, alongside our long-standing commitment to meet all level AA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2).

ScienceDirect has introduced several enhancements to meet the EAA’s requirements, with a focus on content accessibility, the availability of accessibility metadata and ensuring the accessibility of our site’s e-commerce journeys. Below is a breakdown of how we address key areas of the legislation for all newly published titles and across our backlist.

1. Accessibility features of newly published ebooks

   Ebooks now available in ePub format

   • All books published after June 2025 are available in ePub, the most accessible format for digital reading. See an example book with ePub download
   • ePub downloads are currently available as a single file from the book homepage. They are not available for individual chapters. We plan to add links from chapter pages to signal the availability of the ePub version on the parent book page and increase visibility of the ePub format.
   • After you click on "Download ePUB", the file will be downloaded to your machine and an ePUB reader will be required in order to open the file.ePub files can be read using a variety of free and accessible ePub readers, such as Thorium Reader (Windows/Mac), Apple Books (iOS/macOS), and Google Play Books (Android/Web).
   • Digital rights management (DRM) does not affect ePub accessibility.

   Tagged PDFs

   • PDF versions of book chapters are fully tagged for all new titles, ensuring optimal compatibility with screen readers and supporting better navigation and comprehension.

   Accessibility metadata

   • Each book’s landing page includes a “View accessibility information” link that outlines the accessibility features of each of the available formats (PDF, HTML, ePub). See an example book with accessibility metadata
   • Accessibility metadata is not currently available from individual chapter pages. Please refer to the parent book page to view accessibility metadata.

   Images (alt text)

   • All newly published titles include alt text for images, across all formats the ebook is available in (PDF, HTML, ePub). See an example image with alt text.

   Audio and video content (captions & transcripts)

   • Closed captions and transcripts are available for video and audio files. See an example video with closed captions
   • Audio descriptions are available for videos without sound. See an example video with detailed descriptions.
   • On chapter pages, captions and transcripts are rendered in the media player embedded on the page. We use Able Player, a media player designed to work seamlessly with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and other assistive technologies.

2. Accessibility remediation of ebooks published prior to June 2025

   Elsevier has invested in the remediation of approximately 8,000 of our most current and widely used ebooks. Enhancements include fully accessible ePub, tagged PDFs, video captions, alt text for content images, and accessibility metadata. For older legacy ebook titles, Elsevier has created an Accessible Format Request service which allows customers to easily request that a title be remediated to conform with WCAG 2.2 level AA. To request remediation of a title, please go to the ScienceDirect book page, click on the "View accessibility information" button, then the"Request accessible ePUB" link. Note this link is only displayed for older books that have not yet been remediated, and when the user has access to the book. These requests will be assessed individually, and where feasible, fully accessible versions will be provided.

3. E-commerce accessibility

   • All e-commerce flows supported on ScienceDirect have been made highly accessible. All of the critical and high-impact issues have already been addressed, and the remaining low-priority issues will be resolved by Q4 2025.
   • All login, registration, and security components fully comply with WCAG 2.2 Level AA.

Help and feedback

If you encounter any accessibility issues on ScienceDirect or would like to suggest improvements, we welcome your feedback. Our goal is to ensure every user can access academic content without barriers. Please get in touch with us at [email protected].