When I first started learning to request accessible materials for low vision, I told people I preferred digital formats, thinking they were generally more accessible than print or enlarged paper copies. What I didn’t realize was that digital files aren’t automatically accessible just because they are digital; this led to me getting low-resolution photos of paper sitting on a desk, screenshots I couldn’t enlarge, or crooked, blurry text that technically counted as a digital format. I had a lot to learn about accessible file formats for low vision and print disabilities!
As part of developing self-advocacy skills and learning to articulate my access needs and preferences, I explored several file formats for accessible materials and the process for creating/remediating accessible materials. This meant trying out different formats, seeing how they supported my ability to access large print (with secondary preferences for audio access), and learning about what formats to request that support low vision access. Over time, I realized I didn’t need to strain my eyes for hours or get lost in a book because I had no idea what page I was supposed to be reading, I just had to find the formats that would work with my access needs, not against them.
Here is a list of file formats for low vision and print disabilities that students can explore to determine their own access needs/preferences and plan for accessible materials. I also share how I use different file formats for my own access needs and preferences.
Braille file formats for visually impaired
Braille ready files (BRF) are a simple text-based format representing finished braille pages, also known as formatted braille. Available for contracted and uncontracted braille, BRF content can be embossed on braille printers, read on refreshable braille displays, and shared easily across devices; BRF files are typically created with a specific purpose or layout in mind. BRF files are ASCII text files that represent finished braille pages, and include plain Braille ASCII plus spaces, Carriage Return, Line Feed, and Form Feed ASCII control characters. BRF files can be used for reading books or accessing other types of braille content; a common software used for editing BRF and BRL files is Duxbury.
To read BRF content in word processing programs (e.g. Word or Notepad), users will need to install a SimBraille font. While BRF content can be translated back into print/standard text that is read by a screen reader, this process is not perfect. BRL files are similar to BRF, though they may contain less formatting compared to BRF.
Another newer digital braille file format is eBraille, which is designed for use with refreshable braille displays that have different line lengths. eBraille 1.0 was released in August 2025 and can also be used with tactile graphics or multi-line displays.
Related links
- Braille Translation Software from Duxbury Systems
- Meet eBraille | American Printing House
- BRF to eBRL Converter | American Printing House
- Learning To Explain Usable Vision
- What I Have Learned About Print Disabilities
DAISY text and DAISY audio for low vision
Digital accessible information system (DAISY) is designed to be a complete audio substitute for print materials for low vision and print disabilities. DAISY content is structured so that users can search the full text of content, place bookmarks, read line-by-line, and navigate tables, references, or other types of accessible content using audio, print, or refreshable braille. DAISY files can be accessed from accessible materials providers like Bookshare, Learning Ally, and the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS); some providers require users to play DAISY files from a specific device like a talking book player.
The DAISY Consortium maintains a list of DAISY reading systems that can be used for accessing content, along with other types of file formats. DAISY formats are generally used for reading content, and users do not typically create their own DAISY files or edit existing DAISY files. As a student with low vision, I have received books in DAISY formats, but I use other file formats for low vision and print disabilities more frequently.
Related links
- Reading Systems – The DAISY Consortium
- Ten Cool Things You Didn’t Know About Bookshare
- How To Request Accessible Textbooks In College
- Learning to Self-Advocate With Low Vision
DOC/DOCX: Word documents and low vision accessibility
Doc/DocX files (commonly known as Word documents) are text-based documents that supports rich formatting, images, tables, and interactive elements while maintaining a structured layout that can be accessed with assistive technology. Doc/DocX files can be created and edited in programs like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, and LibreOffice Writer; many of these applications also support exporting content as a Doc/DocX file as well. In addition, Word documents offer options for adjustable font sizes, responsive layouts, support for text-to-speech/screen readers and reading documents on a refreshable braille display. Some accessible libraries like Bookshare also offer books in Word/Docx formats for reading.
Word documents are the most common file format I interact with as a student with low vision; my instructors share assignments and instructions as Word documents, I submit assignments and papers as Word documents, and I use Word to access large print accessible equations as well. I prefer responsive formats like Word that allow me to adjust font sizes or zoom in at high levels of magnification over fixed layout formats.
Related links
- Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word
- Reading Bookshare Titles With Microsoft Word
- Secret Microsoft Office Accessibility Features I Use Every Day
- My Most-Used Keyboard Shortcuts For Academic Writing
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
- How I Take Math Tests With Double Vision
- How I Document Accessibility Preferences With Low Vision
EPUB and accessible eBooks
EPUB files are widely used for eBooks and are designed to be reflowable; text and images adjust dynamically to fit different screen sizes, zoom levels, and other user preferences. With EPUB, users can adjust the text size and font styles and apply other display customizations like increased line spacing, custom page colors, and adjustable margins to improve readability. EPUBs also support embedded alt text for images and semantic structure for navigation, which is important for chapter/section headings and table of contents pages. EPUBs can be read on computers or mobile devices with an EPUB reader installed, or on eReader devices.
Since EPUBs can display large print and automatically adjust to fit the width of my screen, I use EPUBs for reading textbooks, novels, cookbooks, and often export required readings for my classes as EPUBs instead of PDFs when available. For books without images, I typically use my eReader with an e-Ink display, which offers a paper-like display with larger print sizes than most physical copies of large print books. For books with images or tables, I prefer to use my tablet or computer for reading EPUBs, using tools like magnification/pinch-to-zoom and text-to-speech to access content.
Related links
- Mainstream eReader Apps and Low Vision Accessibility
- E-Ink Displays and Low Vision Accessibility
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: eReaders
- Ten Questions To Ask When Buying Digital Textbooks
HTML accessibility for low vision
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard language used to create and structure online content and webpages, and provides semantic structure so that users can navigate pages with a screen reader or other types of assistive technology. Like EPUB and Word documents, HTML generally uses a responsive layout or reflowable layout optimized for use with browser zoom or magnification; if a user zooms in on a reflowable document, the content will automatically adjust to fit their screen, with no horizontal scrolling required.
While HTML content can be accessed with assistive technologies like a simplified reading display, large print, or with a screen reader, individuals will still need to use accessibility best practices such as heading levels, ARIA, alt text for images, and descriptive hyperlinks to ensure that content is accessible for users with visual impairments.
I use both online and offline HTML formats to read documents or journal articles, and find it easier to enlarge the responsive layout compared to a PDF; I will always choose reading an HTML article over reading a PDF when the option is available. I also use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + F to search for text in HTML files, which can be helpful when navigating tables; I created an accessible Z-Table with HTML so that I could enlarge the text more easily compared to reading a screenshot of a table.
Related links
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology
- Free Accessible Periodic Tables For Low Vision
- Adapting Accessible Z-Tables: Math Problems and Low Vision
MP3 audio files for low vision
MP3 is widely used for audio content like audiobooks, podcasts, music, or sharing spoken word audio recordings. MP3 files can be played on a computer, mobile device, or on MP3 players; accessible MP3 players for low vision often include tactile buttons and text-to-speech support for locating and playing back files. MP3 files can also be converted to DAISY formats to provide enhanced features for accessibility.
Students with low vision can read print/braille and listen to MP3 content simultaneously, a process known as audio-supported reading or audio-assisted reading. This strategy can be useful for decreasing visual demands/visual fatigue when reading text and can support both reading fluency and reading comprehension.
Related links
- History Podcasts and Audio-Based Resources For VI Students
- How I Listen To Textbooks With Low Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Headphones
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
PDF accessibility for low vision
Although PDFs can be made accessible for users with visual impairments through the use of semantic structure, fixed layout formats like PDFs are typically considered less accessible (or entirely inaccessible) file formats for low vision and print disabilities. These fixed formats (fixed layouts) are designed to mimic physical pages as much as possible, with preset font styles, line spacing, text alignment, and font sizes determined based on the size of the user’s screen. The appearance of the page cannot be changed, and users will have to use pinch-to-zoom or screen magnification and horizontal scrolling to enlarge text.
Most fixed layout documents are inaccessible for screen readers or text-to-speech unless they have been specifically remediated for accessibility using tools like OCR and semantic structure. Low-resolution files can also be challenging to enlarge or magnify for large print access.
PDF for reading documents
Scanned PDFs are essentially image files and do not have searchable or selectable text. Users cannot change the appearance of text, which is why PDFs are frequently used for documents like exams, articles, textbooks, or handouts. When possible, consider responsive file formats for print disabilities like HTML, EPUB, or Word documents over using PDFs, especially if someone uses large print or screen readers. If using a PDF, ensure that it has been remediated for accessibility and that users can select text, read alt text for images, search for text, or listen to content read out loud independently/with the use of assistive technology.
With that in mind, some users prefer the fixed layout of PDFs because they mimic typical print pages and can be read in digital formats. Before EPUBs were an option for some of my textbooks, I used PDFs that had been remediated for accessibility to read textbooks, or would use pinch-to-zoom to enlarge equations, tables, and formulas. I will always choose a responsive layout over a PDF when available, but learning how to use browser zoom/pinch-to-zoom and magnification to enlarge PDFs and access visual information is a skill I often use when filling out forms or writing on top of files with a stylus.
PDFs can also be converted into accessible documents using scanning apps or document conversion tools. I prefer to import PDFs in a responsive format when possible so I have more control over the font size.
PDF for tactile graphics
Because PDFs are designed to mimic the printed page and maintain a consistent layout/display, they are frequently used for tactile graphics templates or creating accessible charts. These graphics can also be used for low vision access, since they are often high contrast and focus on essential details.
Related links
- How I Find Research Sources In Accessible Formats
- How I Access Historical Documents With Low Vision
- Notability and Low Vision
- Ten Spooky Inaccessible Assignments For Low Vision Students
- Tips For Reading Music On An iPad With Low Vision
- Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day
PNG images for low vision
PNG files support lossless data compression, which means that no image quality is lost during compression and the image resolution is preserved. PNG images support over 16 million colors along with support for transparency, making this file format ideal for detailed graphics, charts, and images with text. PNG images can be enlarged with zoom or screen magnification, and can be paired with alt text/image description to ensure nonvisual access for screen readers.
To enlarge content with magnification, I typically open PNG files in a new tab or window so I can zoom in and examine details of an image. Depending on the font size and colors, I can sometimes read text content that is included in an image, but typically rely on alt text or image descriptions to extract detailed text or help confirm what I am reading.
Related links
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- High Contrast and Low Vision
- Recognizing Images With Seeing AI
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
- Using Digital 3D Models With Low Vision
RTF and TXT: Text files for low vision access
Rich Text Format (RTF) is a file format that encodes formatted text and graphics, allowing documents to retain basic formatting like fonts, colors, bold, italics, and tables while remaining compatible across different platforms and word processors. RTF does not support images or other complex layouts but can preserve text content for screen readers and be converted into other accessible formats like braille. Users can both import and export/convert to RTF files across different programs.
In contrast, a plain text file (TXT) contains only basic text characters and simple formatting like line breaks, and lacks advanced features such as fonts, colors, images, or complex layouts. To generate files with headings or other semantics, a Markdown file can be used; this is a plain text file that uses simple symbols to represent formatting, such as # for headings, * for formatting text, and ` for code. Markdown files can be converted into other formats like Word documents and HTML.
Related links
- Tips For Using VDWrite In The Classroom With Low Vision
- Tips For Teaching R Programming To A Low Vision Student
- Sideloading and Low Vision
More resources on accessible file formats for low vision
- I often receive lectures and notes as PowerPoint slideshows, so I can enlarge slides on my own device instead of straining my eyes to see the board. Learn more about PowerPoints in How To Create Accessible PowerPoints and How I Access PowerPoints with Microsoft Sway
- Another tool I use for notetaking is Microsoft OneNote, which makes it easy to organize notes for my classes. Learn more in How I Use Microsoft OneNote With Low Vision
- Need an accessible IDE for coding? Check out Accessible Python IDEs For Low Vision and Pre-Teaching Programming Languages To Visually Impaired Students
- Wondering how I keep all of these files organized? Check out Implementing Shared Folders For Accessible Materials and How I Organize Digital Files For My Classes
Published November 13, 2018. Updated February 2026