Presented at the 2015 M-Enabling Summit on June 1st, 2015. For more information about various accessible mobile applications for reading please go to [http://www.daisy.org/tools/mobile-applications].

1. Finding accessible apps for reading
Varju Luceno
DAISY Consortium [daisy.org]

2. Who need accessible reading apps?
• Users who are blind or have low vision
• Those who appreciate a rich reading experience
• Educators and assistive technology specialists who need to find
apps that meet the needs of their students
• Parents of children with learning disabilities or visual
impairments
• Educators and students in developing countries - mostly looking
for Android apps

3. DAISY Members / Supporters develop apps
Free Learning Ally Audio app for iOS and Android
File size: 8.1 MB (iOS), 9.4 MB (Android)
• Members get access to more than 80,000 audio books
• Text & background colors can be adjusted, rate of reading can be
altered
• Highlighted text can be set to match a rate that best fits a child’s
reading ability
• Available books are for K-12

4. GoRead & Read2Go
• Developed specifically for the print-disabled
• Users can read Bookshare books with voice navigation and
text-to-speech features
• Free GoRead app (1.8 MB): Access to Bookshare books (in
DAISY, braille and audio formats) on Android devices
• Read2Go app ($19.99) for iOS, 115 MB: Read books in
DAISY, braille and audio
• Change font size and color as well as background color

5. BARD Mobile for iOS
Developed by National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped
• Price: Free (must be a registered user of NLS & BARD)
• Size: 11.4 MB
• All buttons are labeled
• VoiceOver can read all page elements
• Access to more than 50,000 books, magazines, and music
scores in audio and digital braille
• Speed, tone, font size, and screen contrast may be adjusted

6. DDReader app for Android
• Free, 3 MB. The user interface offers two modes - Visual
and Accessible
• The Visual mode has a simple design with the book index
on the right and large buttons at the bottom to control the
book playback.
• DAISY 3 full-text full-audio books can be enjoyed with
synchronized text highlighting and audio playback
• In the Accessible mode, the same user interface is
presented in high contrast to suit the needs of users with
limited eyesight

7. Voice Dream Reader for iOS
• Price: $9.99, 52.6 MB
• Intuitive
• All features fully accessible with VoiceOver
• Includes Heather, a female US English voice
• All 36 built-in VoiceOver voices can be used
• Nearly 100 additional paid voices in various languages available
through in-app purchase
• Text in 27 languages can be read out loud
• Supports DAISY, EPUB, Word, PDF etc.
• (Android version available since Sept. 2015)

8. Lektz eBook Reader for Android
• Free. Read books stored on your SD Card as well as
those purchased from Lektz Publisher Stores
• Supports basic features of EPUB 3
• Change the font size, brightness and themes to suit
your reading needs
• Add Notes and Bookmarks to a page
• Like what you're reading on Lektz? Share it with the
world using social sharing options (Facebook)
• Navigate to a page from anywhere in the book with
TOC and Go To options

9. Collaborative efforts + knowledge sharing =
useful apps for specific audiences
Examples:
• Legimus, an app from the Swedish Agency for Accessible Media,
MTM. Adapted to the needs of persons with reading disabilities.
• Read2Go
• Lydhør app: turns mobile devices and tablets into a DAISY-
compatible talking book player, supporting DAISY 2.02, DAISY 3
and EPUB 3 with media overlays.
• Daisylezer, Pratsam Mobile
• Leaders: Textalk, Pyxima, Pratsam, Plextor, Dedicon etc.
• Direct to Player apps (CNIB, CELA in Canada)

10. Testing mainstream reading apps:
epubtest.org
Goals:
• Test and share reviews / information
• Assist developers, manufacturers
• Achieve consistent reading experience where accessible
content meets accessible reading apps
• Test for EPUB 3 conformance
• Ensure that accessibility features and best practices are
used consistently

11. Test Books and Guidelines
• Test plans have been prepared with sample content to carry out
the tests
• The fundamental test book provides the tests and instructions to
the person conducting the test. As EPUB standards and
guidelines evolve, test books also need to be updated.
• Accessibility Screening Methodology Guidelines and Checklist
developed in collaboration with Tech For All

12. Baseline requirements
• Well structured text in logical reading order
• Adjustable font size and color
• Text should be readable with a screen reader or self-voicing
text to speech application, or using a refreshable braille
display

13. Key takeaways
• Technology and standards are constantly evolving; accessibility
advocates and developers need to learn from each other
• Efforts to harness technology that improves user experience and
enhances accessibility are rewarded by increased user numbers
and customer loyalty
• Developers who are familiar with complex needs, strive to
constantly improve their applications
• It is important to provide concrete suggestions for improvement

14. Which reading systems have achieved higher
scores?
• VitalSource Bookshelf
• Voice Dream Reader
• Lektz for Android
• Readium
• Kobo Reader for iOS
• iBooks