I’ve been using eReaders to read books since I was in middle school, primarily using e-ink displays that mimic the appearance of paper and that don’t have distracting applications or features that take away my focus from reading. While I prefer e-ink displays from a user experience perspective because it doesn’t involve bright screens, no way of accessing digital text is 100% perfect and I’ve learned to use different workflows to access content on my device independently. Here are my tips for using eReaders with e-ink displays and low vision accessibility strategies that can make content easier to access.
Advantages and disadvantages of using eInk displays with low vision
eReaders traditionally come with one of two types of displays, LCD and e-ink (sometimes stylized as eInk). LCD displays are similar to the displays found on smartphones and tablet computers and are optimized for reading in indoor environments or areas with limited lighting, while e-ink displays mimic the appearance of a book page and are optimized for use with other environmental lighting such as a lamp or outdoor reading. Some eInk displays may have an optional backlight feature for providing additional illumination.
Advantages of using e-ink displays for reading with low vision include:
- Paper-like display does not use backlight or bright screens to display content, and is often an off-white color
- Content is displayed in a black and white/greyscale color scheme
- In general, e-ink devices offer a longer battery life compared to LCD devices
- Devices offer several options for customizing the display of digital text and larger font sizes compared to print copies of books
- E-Ink devices are available in a variety of sizes and are generally smaller than LCD devices, offering increased portability
- Devices include options for using physical buttons or gestures to navigate the device interface/turn pages
- For users that feel like they “stand out” when using assistive technology to read, e-Ink eReaders provide a discreet option for reading large print text as they mimic the size of a physical book
Disadvantages of using e-ink displays for reading with low vision include:
- Devices do not generally offer screen magnification programs for navigating menus/libraries, which may include small print or icons
- Table of contents menus are often displayed with smaller font sizes, making it challenging to use the menu to navigate a book.
- Pictures are displayed in black and white/grayscale and users may have difficulty enlarging images or interpreting image that use color to convey information
- While some devices have optional backlight features, they act more as a spotlight or reading light and may not provide enough illumination for users that need brighter displays.
When it comes to reading novels or text-only content, I prefer to use an e-ink display because I am sensitive to bright lights and can read from the paper-like display as long as large print sizes are enabled (anything with lots of pictures or colors is read with an eReader app on my iPad). As for navigating menus with small print, I have developed a few workarounds for accessing content, and have also memorized the device layout so I can use motor memory to navigate different screens without having to look closely at the screen.
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: eReaders
- Mainstream eReader Apps and Low Vision Accessibility
- Ten Ways To Reduce Eye Strain From Screens With Technology
- Lighting And Low Vision
Learning to use a new eInk device with low vision
When learning to use a new e-ink device with low vision, it’s helpful to have a copy of the device manual displayed on a separate screen that can be enlarged. To view the screen more easily, a magnifying glass, desktop video magnifier, or similar magnification tool can be used to help a user familiarize themselves with a device and enlarge the display further.
Another option is to work with an assistive technology specialist, technology trainer, or another person to learn how to use the device with low vision. Some stores also offer free in-person support for learning to use a new device, which was the case when I purchased a Nook from Barnes and Noble.
One strategy that may be helpful is creating a DIY tactile overlay, which can be used to provide additional contrast/outlines for learning to use a device. I’ve linked a video from Perkins School for the Blind that uses an iPad overlay as an example, but the process and materials are the same.
Important tech skills to cover when learning to use an eReader include:
- Turning the device on/off
- Charging the device
- How to add new books (either from the device or using a computer/wired connection)
- Navigating the book library
- Opening a new book
- Resume reading in a current book
- Turning pages forward/backwards
- Adjusting the display settings
- Removing books from the library when finished
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- Magnifying Glasses For Low Vision
- Creating a Tactile Overlay for the iPad – YouTube
- Services Provided By State Department/State Unit for Visual Impairment
Using an eReader with external magnification
One of the disadvantages of e-ink displays (and eReaders in general) is that device menus can often include small font sizes that are difficult or impossible to read. In these situations, it is helpful to have external magnification available, such as a magnifying glass, video magnifier, or other optical device. Personally, I often use my phone camera as a makeshift magnifier to zoom in on menus or small print.
Examples of times when I need to use external magnification with my eReader include:
- Enlarging text labels in my device library if I can’t see book covers or want to change how my library is organized
- Reading labels for display settings or device settings
- Checking a page number or percentage read
I don’t need to use magnification while reading because my eReader’s font size is large enough for me to read comfortably without magnification, and I know the locations of the library button and current reading buttons on the device toolbar.
Related links
- iOS Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility
- How I Use My Phone As Assistive Technology In Class
- All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired
Adding new books to the eBook library
While my eReader has an option for buying eBooks directly from the device, I have trouble navigating this interface due to the small font size. However, this isn’t the only way to add new books to an eReader, and I use the following strategies for adding new books to the eBook library:
- Purchasing eBooks directly from the brand’s website. These titles are often protected by DRM (digital rights management) and can only be used on the brand’s supported eReaders, e.g. Amazon Kindle title cannot be read on the Barnes and Noble Nook
- Downloading EPUB books from Bookshare, an accessible online library for individuals with print disabilities. Bookshare is free for students (K-12 and Higher Ed) in the United States, so this is where I download the majority of the books I read. I download the Bookshare books to my computer and add them to my device via USB.
- Libby/OverDrive is a service available from participating public libraries for checking out eBooks, which can be downloaded to a user’s device using the Adobe Digital Editions application or automatically sent to a Kindle device (for select titles)
- Send-to-Kindle can be used to send files directly to a Kindle device or application that’s connected to the internet.
How to sideload content to an eReader
Books that are downloaded/purchased from a brand’s website will be automatically added to the device library when the device is connected to the internet. Users can add content to their eReader purchased or downloaded from another source using a process called sideloading.
Before sideloading content on an eReader, take note of what file formats are supported by the device. Nook eReaders support PDF and EPUB formats, while the Amazon Kindle eReaders support PDF, DOC/DOCX, TXT, EPUB, HTML, and Kindle’s proprietary file formats.
To sideload content from a computer to an eReader:
- Download or locate files to add to the eReader device. I like to put everything in a folder for easy access.
- Connect the eReader to a computer via USB cable.
- Once the computer recognizes the eReader, select the option to open the device to view files. Users may need to unlock their eReader to approve file transfers.
- Locate the device file folder for content or books.
- Copy/paste files from their computer into the device folder to add the content to the device library. Do not copy/paste an entire folder of books, select the files themselves (I use Ctrl + A to select all of the files in a folder and then copy/paste them into the device folder).
- Once finished, ensure that the device is safely ejected from the computer and restart the device if needed to refresh the library.
Related links
- Sideloading and Low Vision
- How I Use Send-To-Kindle With Low Vision
- Fast Facts About Bookshare
- Kindle Unlimited Accessibility For Visual Impairment
- Reading Magazines With The Libby App And Low Vision
Strategies for organizing books on an eInk display
Once the eReader is filled with content, how will the user figure out what they want to read? Normally I rely on colored icons or shapes to navigate interfaces or identify content, but this isn’t an option on an e-ink display. My favorite strategies for organizing books on an e-ink display with low vision include:
- Sorting books either by Author or by Title, which provides a logical order for searching for content
- Using a grid layout that shows large icons of book covers, many of which have distinctive shapes or art
- Organizing books into shelves within the device, which can help with organization by presenting fewer books in one area, but will likely require external magnification or sighted assistance during setup due to small print sizes
Some users may prefer to download fewer books at a time or delete/archive books when finished to reduce the amount of visual clutter on their device or make it easier to locate books.
Can I change the book covers?
For books that do not have DRM protection, users can change the book covers by importing the file into Calibre (a free open-source software for managing eBooks) or a similar program that edits individual metadata for titles. When editing the metadata, users have the option to change the book cover and replace it with their own file or generate an alternative cover. This may make it easier to locate books in the eBook library.
Related links
Configuring display settings for text
E-ink displays often feature a minimalist display for text, which is great for distraction-free reading. However, users with low vision will likely need to customize display settings for reading, which will automatically be applied whenever they open a new book- I find that I rarely have to adjust these display settings from book to book when I am reading EPUB file formats. This can often be configured within a book by selecting the display settings icon, which looks like an Aa icon on most devices.
eInk displays offer the following options for customizing the display of content:
- Font size. This is usually displayed as a slider or with buttons that incrementally increase the font size.
- Font style, which can include a mix of serif and sans serif fonts. Nook and Kindle devices also offer Open Dyslexic
- Font weight, which can include options for bold font
- Page margins
- Line spacing
- Justification/text alignment
For supported devices, backlight illumination can be activated by either pressing a button on the device or using a slider on the display settings menu.
Changing background colors on an E-Ink display
Most e-ink displays do not have an option for invert colors/inverted displays, also known as dark mode. While this is an option for select Kindle Paperwhite devices (enabled under accessibility settings), I have not personally recommended it to anyone because it has a noticeable flashing effect when turning pages and appears to have an impact on battery life.
For users that would want a “tinted” screen while reading that is different from the off-white display built into the device, one strategy I have used is placing a colored overlay sheet on top of the screen, which is made of transparent tinted material. The sheet itself is cut to fit the size of the display and can be removed when not in use.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Amazon Kindle App and Low Vision Accessibility
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
- Paper Colors And Low Vision
More resources on eReaders and eInk displays for low vision
- My personal eReader is a “plus” model with a larger display size (around 7 inches), which I prefer for reading with larger font sizes.
- To protect my device and keep it from getting lost, I purchased a vibrant, high-contrast cover that can easily be spotted on top of furniture or inside of a backpack. I talk more about this in High Contrast and Low Vision
- If I have to do a lot of reading for class, I can sideload EPUB files created by Anthology Ally or downloaded from another source and read them on my eReader. Learn more in Using Anthology Ally With Low Vision and How I Use My eReader For School and Online Classes
- I know that there are devices that exist with a color eInk display, but I have not personally used them because they do not offer options for enlarging images. If I have to read something that has pictures in it, I prefer to read it on my larger iPad screen.
Published September 24, 2024. Updated January 2025