The electronic document is one of the most common mixtures of the types of information. Electronic documents allow authors to embed pictures, tables and videos, for example.
Information in electronic documents can be delivered in text documents – such as Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, presentations or slideshows – or in audio format – such as MP3 or analogue tape. While the steps to achieve full accessibility may vary depending on the approach used, the ease with which these electronic documents can be made accessible grows with the inclusion of accessible types of information.
It is important to note that many authoring tools now offer accessibility features and checking tools to ensure documents are created in an accessible format.
An accessible PDF, for example, often begins its life as an accessible text document. Most accessibility features are transferred into different formats. However, depending on software versions, it is still possible that individual accessibility features may not transfer across.
In the future, enhanced e-books will considerably improve access to all kinds of content in special standards such as EPUB 3 and, more specifically, EDUPUB. E-books present new challenges with regard to accessibility as they can include interactive functionalities, animations and other advanced features.