Elsevier Statement on the Updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act
Accessible Web Content
Last updated June 02 2026
How Elsevier supports ADA requirements
Elsevier is committed to providing accessible products and services that are designed to align with applicable laws and standards, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)opens in new tab/window. While the implementation date for the ADA Title accessibility regulations has been delayed to April 26, 2027, we are continuing our mission to make our content, products, and platforms accessible to everyone.
The ADA April 2024 Title II ruleopens in new tab/window to standardize WCAG 2.1 AA for websites and native apps will ensure people with disabilities have equal access to government services, programs, and activities available online. Elsevier is steadfast in its desire to help our communities benefit from more accessible books, journals, and information analytics services. That is why we are taking steps to align our products and services with appropriate ADA Title II guidelines in advance of the revised deadline. In addition, we support our customers in achieving their ADA Title II goals with a continuous improvement approach aligned to their IT procurement policies. As stated in our accessibility policy, Elsevier works to meet and, where possible, exceed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 level AA standard referenced by the ADA, including future revisions of those guidelines.
Elsevier’s approach
Elsevier supports accessibility through a central accessibility team, and a network of more than six hundred accessibility champions working in various roles to ensure that our digital content and user experiences are accessible and compliant. We provide accessibility training and certification for product teams and include accessibility testing and design reviews within our software development process. Products are also tested by people with disabilities.
Books and companion materials
All standard EPUB ebooks published since July 2023 have received the Benetech Globally Certified Accessible (GCA) certificationopens in new tab/window, providing users with disabilities with an accessible ebook that works on a variety of devices and conforms to WCAG 2.2 AA and EPUB 1.1. Our EPUBs go through the annual GCA recertification, a rigorous testing process which ensures our ebooks are contemporary with standards and compatible with assistive technology.
As of May 2026, Elsevier has completed the remediation of over 8,000 of our most current, widely used, and previously published ebooks on our largest content platforms. Enhancements include accessible EPUB files; video captions, transcripts, and enhanced text descriptions where video content is presented visually only; alt text for content images; and accessibility metadata, which allows ebook consumers to review accessibility features and potential hazards before purchasing or using our ebooks.
For older ebook titles, Elsevier has developed an Accessible Format Request (AFR) service. The AFR service allows customers to easily request that a title be remediated to conform with WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. We are pleased to share that we have now expanded the AFR Service to include book-based companion resources and materials, such as PowerPoint decks, Flashcards, PDFs, Quiz Banks, and Image Banks. Since June 2025, we have been making the companion materials for our newly published and most-used previously published books accessible in line with these standards, and from May 2026 customers will be able to request for companion materials of other previously published books to be made accessible through the same process.
To ensure the widest compatibility with reading apps and assistive technology, Elsevier ebooks are accessible in multiple formats including HTML, tagged PDF, EPUB, and VST/VitalSource. ScienceDirect users can download accessible EPUB ebooks, and also request accessible EPUB for backlist titles via the AFR service. Learn more about Elsevier EPUB accessibility featuresopens in new tab/window.
Accessible print formats
Students who require a book accommodation may use our Alternative Format Request Formopens in new tab/window or The AccessText Networkopens in new tab/window (U.S. and Canada). For other questions about accommodations, please contact our accessibility team at [email protected]opens in new tab/window.
Journals
Elsevier publishes over 5,000 journal titles across many science and health subject areas. We have been enhancing journal article accessibility for more than 20 years and continue to update the content to meet WCAG 2.2 standards. Journal article accessibility features include:
image alt text and extended descriptions
video captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions
accessibility metadata
PDF tags
MathML
Semantic HTML
Our plan is to have WCAG 2.2 level AA conformance in place for all new journals where Elsevier is responsible for production by August 2026. This includes all Elsevier-owned journals and the majority of our Society-owned journals. For production that is managed by our publishing partners, we have shared guidance on how they can prepare and share accessible content with us. The alternative text we provide for our journals will be initially generated using AI, with all descriptions reviewed by the author at proof stage, in line with our Responsible AI Principles. If you find an issue with image alt text, please let us know through our contact formopens in new tab/window.
Our previously published journal content in HTML (for example, on ScienceDirect) is well suited for use with screen readers. HTML versions of the majority of articles and book chapters published since 2008 include well-structured headings, tables with proper headers, lists, paragraphs. To make sure that those who require previously published content in a WCAG 2.1 AA format (for example, alt text for images, captions for videos, tagged PDFs with metadata) are able to receive it, we have launched a Journals Accessible Format Request service to complement our Books Accessible Format Request service. Customers can request accessibility features for articles for which they already have access. More details on this service can be found on our AFR information page. We are also exploring solutions to help us remediate our legacy content at scale. We will share further details about this as the work progresses.
Information analytics products
Elsevier's broader portfolio of information analytics tools and services aim to conform to WCAG 2.1 AA standards, with a strategic direction toward WCAG 2.2 AA adoption across the enterprise. Digital products are supported by structured remediation programs, with accessibility experts guiding teams throughout the design, development, and testing process in pursuit of full conformance and ongoing improvement.
To attest to WCAG standards conformance, Elsevier provides transparent, detailed Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs) and Product Accessibility Statements available on Elsevier public ACR directory.
Submission systems
Elsevier's submission systems are currently undergoing WCAG 2.1 AA conformance assessments. In the meantime, authors, reviewers, and editors who require assistance with submission, editorial, or review workflows can contact Elsevier by emailing [email protected]opens in new tab/window to request disability accommodation. End user support is available for navigating submission and proofing platforms, and users now have expanded options for adding and editing alt text for images. Updated best practices for creating accessible journal and book content will be available in Elsevier's author guidelines.
Library partnership
Elsevier works with the Library Accessibility Alliance eResource testing programopens in new tab/window and the Elsevier Accessibility Library Advisory Board. Our approach is informed by Library Accessibility Allianceopens in new tab/window’s guidance around ADA Title II. Learn more about the Library Accessibility Alliance approach to ADA Title IIopens in new tab/window.
To learn more about Elsevier’s accessibility program or to request support from an accessibility expert, please contact [email protected]opens in new tab/window.