Accessibility Statement for Author Services 

1. Accessibility declaration 

Platform: Author Services | authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com 

Taylor & Francis is committed to ensuring that our platform is accessible for all our users, regardless of their ability or technology. We are constantly working on improving the accessibility and usability of our platform.  

Our platform endeavours to conform to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA Standard and Web Accessibility Initiative Accessible Rich Internet Applications Suite (WAI-ARIA) 1.2. 

We also adhere to guidance from: 

• Section 508 Standards of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act 
• American’s with Disabilities Act, Title II 
• EN 301 549 – European Union Accessibility requirements suitable for public procurement of ICT products and services in Europe 
• European Accessibility Act (28 June 2025) 
• The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 

These guidelines detail how to make content accessible to a wide range of people with disabilities, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity, and combinations of these.  

Preparation of this accessibility statement 

This accessibility statement for Author Services was last reviewed and updated on 6 November 2025. 

Author Services was last tested on 30 September 2025. The test was carried out by The Digital Design & Development Team, Phil Allum – Senior Web Dev Manager, and Jennie Mather – Accessibility Officer. A selection of pages representative of the product was comprehensively tested.  

Corporate Accessibility Statement 

Read the Corporate Accessibility Statement for Taylor & Francis to learn more about what we’re doing as a company across all of our sites and content workflows.  

Our commitment to accessible publishing 

Publishing Accessibility Action Group (PAAG) Charter 

Taylor & Francis signed the PAAG Charter in December 2022 and are committed to meeting the 10 commitments of this charter. Our objective is to make all content accessible and to embed accessible practices throughout the publishing ecosystem. 

Inclusive Publishing (The DAISY Consortium) 

We are an Inclusive Publishing Partner. Inclusive Publishing is co-ordinated and managed by The DAISY Consortium (Digital Accessible Information System). The group contributes to mainstream standards, develops guidelines to promote best practices, raises awareness of accessible reading systems and supports open standards for inclusive publishing and shares knowledge to make mainstream publications accessible to all, including people with print disabilities. 

Accessibility Conformance Report 

Read the full Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for Author Services and check our Accessibility Roadmap to learn about any issues scheduled for review. 

The Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) may also be referred to as a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). The ACR is the final output, having populated the VPAT guidance document. 

There are four VPAT templates, we use the combined template which covers Section 508, EN 301 549, WCAG 2.1 [and WCAG 2.2]. 

Tools used for accessibility testing 

We use a combination of automated tools and manual testing:  

Accessibility testing tools: Siteimprove.com with site target set to WCAG 2.2 Levels A and AA, with ARIA and accessibility best practices included, to identify issues and potential issues. WAVE Tool by WebAIM, Accessibility Insights for Web by Axe-Core, Lighthouse, and bookmarklets have also been used to support manual testing. 

Assistive technologies: NVDA and Narrator screen readers, as well as exclusive use of the keyboard to navigate site content and test user interface functionality. 

Laptop: Microsoft Edge 138.0.3351.109 and Chrome Version 138.0.7204.184 on a DELL laptop running Microsoft Window 11 Enterprise Version 23H2 with OS build 22631.5624. 

Resize display settings: 1280 × 1024 and 1280 × 768, with scaling at 100%, and browser set to 200%. Reflow display settings: 1280 × 1024, with scaling at 100%, and browser set to 400%.  

Mobile: Samsung Flip 6, running Android 15 and One UI version 7.0, with Chrome Version 138.0.7204.179. Used for checking Orientation with locked and unlocked screen rotation settings. 

2. Accessibility roadmap 

At the Author Services platform, we release updates regularly. In each release, accessibility is a fundamental aspect of the development and quality assurance processes, ensuring that the platform adheres to the legislation and guidance outline in our accessibility declaration. 

In June 2024, we partnered with a third-party company, Siteimprove. This comprehensive tool allows us to regularly audit our products, producing a report on any areas that require fixing and their priority status. 

Issues are reviewed, and necessary fixes scheduled into our roadmap for completion. 

Q1 2026 remediation plan 

Q2 2026 remediation plan 

Third-party issues – Go To Stage, Go To Webinar 

The listed issues will be shared with the vendor in Q1 2026. 

3. Content types and formats 

Platform 

Author Services provides content in various formats, ensuring accessibility and usability for all users. User guides are available to assist with accessing and using the platform.  

Podcasts and audio readings 

Where audio recordings are available, there is an accompanying text equivalent – either as a transcript file, or as text on the webpage. 

Training and event videos 

Our training and event videos are embedded into the Author Services platform, from YouTube and Go To Stage. They can also be watched directly on those platforms.   

For videos hosted on Go To Stage, the accessibility issues identified in our accessibility roadmap will be raised with them for remediation, to ensure our training content is fully accessible to everyone. 

Live webinars 

Our live webinars and events are delivered via Zoom, or Go to Webinar.   

For events delivered via Go to Webinar, the accessibility issues identified in our accessibility roadmap will be raised with them for remediation, to ensure our training content is fully accessible to everyone. 

4. Accessibility features 

Embedding accessibility 

Taylor & Francis aims to ensure that accessibility is at the heart of our platform development, by subscribing to the Four Principles of Accessibility – POUR, as published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). 

• Perceivable: Users must be able to perceive the information being presented to them by at least one of their senses.  
• Operable: Users must be able to operate the interface, it cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform.  
• Understandable: Users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface. 
• Robust: Content must be robust enough that it can be interpreted reliably by a wide variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. This means that users must be able to access the content as technologies advance. 

Text alternatives 

Providing text alternatives for non-text content, such as images, icons, and multimedia, so that it can be changed into other forms people need, like large print, braille, speech, symbols, or simpler language. 

• All non-text content on Author Services, that is presented to the user has a text alternative. 

Time-based media 

Offering alternatives for time-based media, such as captions for videos and transcripts for audio content. 

• Audio-only content on the site is also conveyed in a standard text transcript. 
• Video content hosted on YouTube, has a standard timestamped transcript. 
• Content hosted on YouTube has Closed Captions that can be customised. 
• Live webinars through Zoom and Go to Webinar offer captions. 

Adaptable content 

Creating content that can be presented in different ways (e.g., simpler layout) without losing information or structure. 

• Visual information, like headings, lists, tables, or emphasized text, has the same organisation and relationships built into the site’s code.  
• Order of content is in a logical reading order that users expect. 
• Instructions for understanding and operating content does not solely rely on single characteristics. 
• Not restricted to a single-display orientation (portrait / landscape).  
• Purpose of form fields can be identified by the browser, so that auto-complete suggestions can be offered. 

Distinguishable content 

Making it easier for users to see and hear content, including separating foreground from background 

• Colour is not the only visual means of conveying information. 
• Most videos hosted on YouTube do not automatically play. 
• Videos on YouTube and Go To Stage have functionality to play/pause, adjust volume with option to mute, and more. 
• Most text/background colour combinations have a minimum contrast ratio of  4.5:1. 
• Usable components have a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1. 
• Can be resized up to 200% without loss of content or functionality. 
• Text is used to convey information, rather than images of text. 
• Content is reflowable and responsive, without requiring horizontal scrolling. 
• When new content appears, triggered by hover or keyboard focus, users are able to dismiss it, interact with it, have enough time to engage with it. 

Operable 

Keyboard accessible 

Making all functionality available from a keyboard, ensuring that users who cannot use a mouse can still navigate and interact with the content. 

• All functionality is operable by keyboard only.  
• No specific timings to complete individual keystrokes. 
• No keyboard traps. 
• No keyboard shortcuts are used. 

Enough time 

Providing users enough time to read and use content, such as allowing users to extend time limits or turn off time constraints. 

• No time limits set throughout the site. 
• No moving, blinking, or scrolling information that starts automatically, or last more than five seconds. 
• No auto-updating information that starts automatically. 

Seizures and physical reactions 

Avoiding content that could cause seizures or physical reactions, such as flashing lights or patterns. 

• No flashing content. 

Navigable 

Helping users navigate, find content, and determine where they are, including providing clear and consistent navigation mechanisms. 

• First clickable item on the page is a “skip to main content link”. 
• Landmarks define core parts of the page. 
• Multiple ways to navigate, including breadcrumb trail leading back to the homepage, on-page links with meaningful anchor text, a site-wide search available from all pages, consistent footer links, and main navigation menu. 
• Each page has a unique title that describes what’s on that page. 
• Elements receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability. 
• Most link destinations are clear from either the link text or surrounding context. 
• Headings are descriptive and effectively summarise sections of content. 
• Form labels clearly describe what information is required. 
• Buttons inform the user what will happen when they’re pressed. 
• Most of the time, there is clear visible keyboard focus styling. 
• All content receiving Keyboard focus is always at least partially visible. 

Input modalities 

Making it easier for users to operate functionality through various inputs beyond the keyboard, such as voice commands or touch. 

• No author-created gestures that requires actions to be carried out using a gesture or drawing. 
• Functions that use a single pointer are completed when the user releases the pointer.  
• Visible labels have a corresponding accessible name. 
• No reliance on author-created gestures that requires device motion. 
• No author-created functionality that requires dragging movements 
• Clickable elements are at least 24 × 24 pixels in size. 

Understandable 

Readable 

Making text content readable and understandable, which involves using clear and simple language, providing definitions for unusual words or phrases, and ensuring that the reading level is appropriate for the audience. 

• Page language is identified using the HTML lang attribute (en-GB). 
• No parts of the page that are in a different language to the page itself. 

Predictable  

Creating web pages that appear and operate in predictable ways, such as ensuring that navigation is consistent across the site and that interactive elements behave in expected ways. 

• No unexpected changes when components receive focus. 
• Contact Us link in persistent footer. 
• Step-by-step guidance on submitting a journal or book, is linked to from the persistent top navigation. 
• Navigation is consistent from page to page. 
• Components are identified consistently. 

Input assistance 

Helping users avoid and correct mistakes, which includes providing clear labels and instructions for form fields, offering error suggestions, and ensuring that forms are easy to complete. 

• Error messages in red text, and announced to screen readers. 
• Some error messages have a secondary visual indicator, such as an exclamation mark. 
• Help is provided to prevent form errors. 
• Forms do not ask users to enter the same information more than once. 
• Helpful suggestions are provided to help users correct errors, and identify required fields not yet completed. 
• Forms can be checked before submitting. 

Robust 

Compatible 

Maximizing compatibility with current and future user agents, including assistive technologies. This involves using well-formed markup and following standards to ensure that content can be reliably processed by different devices and software. 

• All user interface elements and components have the right names, roles, states, properties and values so they’re recognised correctly by assistive technologies. 
• Some form error messages and supporting instructions are announced by a screen reader. 
• Built to modern web standards using valid XHTML and CSS.  

Screen reader users 

Modern screen readers use a common set of commands allowing you to navigate through a page using the headings: 

• h – cycle through the headings 
• Shift h – cycle backwards through the headings 
• 1 – 6 – move to the next heading of the same level (for example, 1 will move you to the next level 1 heading, 2 will move you to the next level 2 heading) 
• Shift 1 – 6 – as above but moving through each heading backwards 
• Insert F6 – provide a list of all headings on a page. 

Opera users 

If you are browsing the site using Opera you can cycle through the headings using these commands: 

• s – cycle through the headings. 
• w – cycle backwards through the headings. 

5. Feedback and contact information 

Contact us 

We are always developing solutions to further improve the site’s overall accessibility. In the meantime, should you experience any difficulty in accessing Author Services please email us at [email protected]. We endeavour to respond within five business days, or fewer. 

Request service 

Taylor & Francis request service 

When a work is unavailable for purchase in a suitable format, we endeavour to provide one within three working days. Institutions and individuals can place their request via our Academic VIP (Visually Impaired Persons) Team. Note, this team handle alternative format requests for all print-disabilities. 

• Book requests form – including ancillary instructor and student resources 
• Journal requests form 
• [email protected]  

RNIB Bookshare and Bookshare 

Our titles are also available through RNIB Bookshare | UK Education Collection, and Bookshare | Benetech in PDF and EPUB formats, and are shared with these platforms as part of our automated publishing workflow. Where EPUB is provided, titles can be downloaded as a Word, DAISY, Braille Ready File (BRF) or EPUB file, as well as being supported by the built-in reading tool and Dolphin Easy Reader. 

General information 

If you would like more general information or help with web-accessibility, we recommend the BBC Accessibility Help page.  

AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability. 

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has information on assistive aids and technology for blind and partially sighted people.