Tech Notes
Reading has the power to take you anywhere. Whether it’s escaping into your favorite fantasy series, catching up on the latest research, or diving into a new sci-fi book, reading connects us to new ideas, new people, and new perspectives. But for many people who rely on assistive technology, accessing books isn’t always as easy as picking one up and flipping through it, or even downloading one onto an e-reader.
This is why devices like the Amazon Kindle have the potential to be game changers. With the right accessibility features, the Kindle can help break down barriers and open the door for more people to experience the joy of reading. During my accessibility journey as an intern, I became very curious about the user experience for things I use in my everyday life – and so, I wanted to learn more about how Kindle supports accessibility, what features are available, and how they have and can continue to make a difference. Let’s take a closer look at what I found.
What Accessibility Features Does Kindle Offer?
Amazon has been working on making the Kindle more accessible over the years, which is evident in its newer models. One of the standout features is VoiceView, a built-in screen reader that allows non-sighted and visually impaired users to navigate the device using spoken feedback. When connected to bluetooth or headphones, users can hear the device read everything out loud, from menus to entire books. There are also adjustable font settings, including the OpenDyslexic font, which is designed to make text easier to read for people with dyslexia. You can change the font size, line spacing, and margins, which is helpful for users with low vision or cognitive disabilities. There’s also screen magnification for zooming in on smaller text, and inverted colors or high contrast themes for readers who are sensitive to light or who need better contrast.
Even though these may seem like small changes, they can make a big difference. Giving people the ability to customize their reading experience means that more people can enjoy books in the way that works the best for them.
Why Inclusive Design Matters
One thing to take note is that accessibility works best when it’s built into the design from the start, not just added on later. When Kindle includes these features in its initial setup, it shows a commitment to thinking about a wide range of users. Accessibility features aren’t just for a small group of people. In reality, they are meant to help everyone. Just think about someone who forgot their reading glasses, someone reading outside in the sun, or someone who prefers listening to books on the go. Accessibility is about making digital spaces and tools flexible enough for different needs and that’s exactly what an inclusive design does.
It was eye-opening to compare what Kindle offers now with what I actually experience on my own secondhand, older model. My device doesn’t support some of these newer features; I’m not able to access VoiceView or the full range of customization tools. Though it is great to see how much they’ve grown over the years, my experience helped me understand how some users can sometimes be left behind– and when we talk about accessibility, we need to include everyone in that conversation, not just those with the latest tech. Again, had accessibility been thought of and included from the very beginning, these exclusions wouldn’t happen.
There’s Room to Grow
Kindle has come a long way, but there’s still room for improvement. For example, while books themselves can be accessible, not every book includes alt text for images or accessible navigation. If a book includes visual content without a description, screen reader users might miss important information.
Also, finding and activating accessibility settings on Kindle could also be made more intuitive. If it takes too long to figure out where these options are or how to turn them on, users may never get to benefit from them. Better onboarding and clearer instructions could go a long way in helping users access the tools they need right away.
Books Should Be for Everyone
When we make reading more accessible, we make it more inclusive and inherently better for everyone. The steps Kindle has taken so far show that digital reading can be adaptable, flexible, and welcoming to more readers. With continued attention to inclusive design and a commitment to improvement, Amazon has the opportunity to lead the way in creating digital spaces where no one is left out.
Whether you’re a developer, a content creator, or just someone who loves to read, it’s important to think about how accessibility fits into the bigger picture. Even the smallest of changes can have a really big impact.
Reading should be for everyone. Accessibility can help to make that possible.
About the Author
Donasia Washington is a full-time Business Analytics student at Florida Polytechnic University and a current intern with AFB’s Talent Lab. She is passionate about bringing digital accessibility into business spaces, which is an area where inclusion is often overlooked. Through her internship, she aims to grow her awareness and understanding of accessible design practices and explore how they can be integrated into business strategies and critical decision making.
About AFB Talent Lab
The AFB Talent Lab aims to meet the accessibility needs of the tech industry – and millions of people living with disabilities – through a unique combination of hands-on training, mentorship, and consulting services, created and developed by our own digital inclusion experts. To learn more about our internship and apprenticeship programs or our client services, please visit our website at www.afb.org/talentlab.
