Inclusive Design and Accessibility in EBSCOhost: Transforming Library Research Platforms

Accessibility in research platforms is no longer just a trend in today’s digital world — it’s a fundamental requirement, particularly for research platforms that serve as gateways to knowledge. Digital accessibility ensures that applications can be easily navigated and understood by individuals with varying needs, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities. Yet, accessibility is only one part of the equation. Inclusive design extends accessibility, going beyond compliance to create experiences that benefit all humans. 

Accessibility is also key to expanding the platform's audience. By designing the enhanced EBSCOhost interface for individuals with visual impairments, cognitive disabilities, or low literacy, EBSCOhost and its databases broaden its reach and open doors to a wider user base. With an estimated 16% of the global population living with a significant disability, accessibility becomes a crucial factor in extending EBSCOhost's impact as a research platform. 

EBSCO understands the importance of keeping accessibility in mind throughout the product development lifecycle. This understanding starts with EBSCO’s designers and product managers and carries through to software developers, and this was no exception for the enhanced EBSCOhost interface. By prioritizing accessibility in EBSCOhost, the team strives to create an environment where research is available to all, regardless of individual abilities or circumstances. Our team is committed to developing features and tools that enhance usability not only in EBSCOhost but in EBSCO Discovery Service, Explora, EBSCO e-books and other EBSCO products like Flipster. We emphasize intuitive design, adaptive technologies, and personalized user experiences to make our platforms accessible and user-friendly for everyone. 

There are many factors that the EBSCO team has taken into consideration. One reason to prioritize accessibility in our research platforms is legal compliance. Many regions including the United States and Europe have impacted broad sweeping legislation to ensure their citizens have equitable access. EBSCO strives to meet all guidelines laid out in legislation and continues to develop our platforms to accommodate users of all abilities.   

Americans With Disabilities Act, Title II (ADA) 

Title II of the ADA requires state and local governments to make sure that their services, programs, and activities are accessible to people with disabilities. Title II applies to all services, programs, or activities of state and local governments, from adoption services to zoning regulation. This includes the services, programs, and activities that state and local governments offer online and through mobile apps. ADA Title II requires conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA, EBSCO products are designed, built and tested against WCAG 2.2 AA, Section 508 as well as the EU standard EN 301 549.   

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a directive (2019/882) of the European Union aimed at improving the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities and the elderly across the EU. The EAA reflects the commitment to accessibility made by the EU and all Member States as part of ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Enforcement begins June 28th, 2025.  

The EAA was officially adopted in April 2019 to remove barriers created by the disconnected rules and standards across EU member states, facilitating easier cross-border trade and ensuring accessible products and services are more affordable and widely available. It provides a framework with minimum requirements that each member state must uphold. The directive’s implementation is specific to each country and, as a result, each country’s accessibility regulation varies to some degree. The EAA requires conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 548, EBSCO products are designed, built and tested against WCAG 2.2 AA, Section 508 and EU standard EN 301 549.   

EBSCO is committed to ensuring that its research platforms comply with accessibility regulations, recognizing that accessibility is not merely a legal obligation but a fundamental aspect of providing equitable access to information for all users. Our approach encompasses a comprehensive range of proactive measures designed to identify, address, and exceed accessibility standards. Here’s how we achieve this: 

• Performing third-party audits by a qualified accessibility vendor 
• Testing and conforming to WCAG 2.2 AA 
• Updating ACR/VPATs to be reported on v2.5INT VPAT template 
• Updating our accessibility statements for 2024/2025 
• Updating our product roadmaps to include any non-conforming success criteria with remediation timelines 
• Ongoing training for developers and product teams on accessibility standards and best practices 
• EBSCO has created a process for customers to request remediated content and has invested in internal teams to ensure content is remediated and returned as efficiently as possible. For more information, please visit the Accessible Content Remediation Requests page on EBSCO Connect.  
• Sharing our accessibility documentation publicly: 
  •    ACR/VPATs on EBSCO Connect 
  •    Accessibility Statements 

Many products are currently undergoing audits to ensure compliance with EN 301 549, Section 508, and WCAG 2.2 AA, with updated ACR/VPATs set to be published soon. Additionally, we are actively collaborating with publishers to secure accessible content while continuously enhancing our user interfaces. EBSCO's accessibility team — comprising users with disabilities and a dedicated product manager — is deeply committed to surpassing accessibility standards ahead of the EAA deadline (June 28, 2025) and ADA Title II compliance (April 2026). 

For the EBSCOhost research platform, accessibility is more than just meeting requirements — it’s about opening the world of research to all users. In developing the new EBSCOhost UI, our product management team worked to increase its system usability score in the new EBSCOhost UI. Through continuous improvements and user-centered design, EBSCOhost opens the doors of knowledge to a broader, more diverse audience, creating a richer and more equitable academic environment for everyone.