Learning how to write research papers and essays can be overwhelming for students with low vision or print disabilities that impact access to standard print. Research databases, search engine results pages, and even just research articles in general can be extremely overwhelming visually, making it difficult for users to find the information they are looking for or read it effectively. As part of my Writing Success series, here is how I read research sources with assistive technology as a student with low vision, and options for getting accessible copies of research papers.
Identifying file formats on research databases
Academic databases vary in terms of accessible file formats offered and support for assistive technologies; while almost every database I have encountered offers a PDF, other responsive file formats may not be widely available across platforms. Some articles are listed on multiple databases, with each database having different file formats available for text, so users may prefer to search specific databases or research sources to find what they need.
I typically find articles through my college’s library using the “Libraries Search” search box to search multiple databases simultaneously, unless I am doing a targeted literature review. As part of the search results for each article, I can view which database(s) host the online article; I’ve familiarized myself with the accessibility features and available file formats for several sources so I can quickly open an article in my preferred font sizes or configurations.
While this is by no means a complete list, the following file formats are available on research databases for full-text content. Note that the file formats listed may not be available for all content listed in the database:
- EBSCO: HTML, PDF, MP3
- Elsevier/ScienceDirect: HTML, PDF
- Gale: HTML, PDF, MP3
- JSTOR: PDF, EPUB (books), HTML viewer; accessible PDF on demand
- Project MUSE: HTML, PDF
- ProQuest: HTML, PDF, XLS, RTF, TXT
- Sage: HTML, PDF, EPUB
- Springer: HTML, PDF
- Taylor and Francis: HTML, PDF, MP3
- Wiley: HTML, PDF, PPT (for viewing figures)
HTML format is often the most compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies, as it preserves document structure such as headings, lists, and reading order. PDF accessibility varies widely depending on whether the document has been properly tagged and structured. Some platforms like JSTOR offer an on-demand accessible PDF remediation tool that adds structure, tagging, and other features to support use with assistive technologies. On JSTOR, this option is available in the Download menu as “Request accessible PDF.”
As a doctoral student, I typically gravitate towards using Sage, EBSCO, and ProQuest more frequently than the other options listed. I share more strategies for finding research sources in accessible formats below.
Related links
- How I Find Research Sources In Accessible Formats
- File Formats For Low Vision and Print Disabilities
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
Accessing research sources in HTML format
I prefer to use the HTML file format whenever possible, which is displayed in my web browser and provides options for using browser zoom, enlarging the text size, adjusting line spacing, and other digital text preferences.
To access research sources in a HTML format, I will use one or more of the following tools:
- Simplified reading display, which applies consistent text formatting for digital content to include larger font sizes, single-column layout, and increased spacing. Immersive Reader, Google Reading Mode, and Reading View are examples of simplified reading displays.
- Adjust text spacing and/or columns to show a single-column page that I can scroll through.
- Display extensions such as dark mode/high contrast reading tools
- Browser zoom to enlarge text without having to scroll horizontally to read lines
- Navigate to areas of interest with hyperlinks or a table of contents
- Use Read Aloud, text-to-speech, or another screen reader to navigate the page. Most of the HTML text I encounter has headings, so it is easier to navigate between sections and have text read out loud accurately
The WebReader tool used by Taylor and Francis provides a built-in read aloud tool with word-level highlighting and a text mode for displaying HTML content in plain text with adjustable font sizes.
Related links
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- How To Use Text-To-Speech With Low Vision
- Adapting Page Layouts: Math Problems and Low Vision
- My Favorite Web Browser Extensions For Low Vision and CVI: Reducing Visual Fatigue
Converting articles to text-only view
Textise is a free tool that can convert almost any webpage into a text-only viewing experience; no images, ads, scripts, or other distractions. Users can customize the font size, spacing, text/page color, and other visual details, as well as open hyperlinks in a text-only layout as well. Textise has been tremendously helpful when reading open-access articles or blog posts, as this makes it easier to avoid flashing pop-ups, inconsistent font sizes, or other distracting features. Users can access Textise by copy/pasting a URL directly on the Textise website or enabling the Textise web browser extension.
Related links
- Textise – Text-Only and Accessibility Tools
- Accessing The News With Assistive Technology
- How I Listen To Textbooks With Low Vision
- My Most-Used Keyboard Shortcuts For Academic Writing
Accessing research sources in EPUB format
EPUB is another file format I frequently encounter, and several databases offer EPUB options for books (more common) and reading individual articles in a responsive format. EPUB offers many of the same customization options as HTML text and can be downloaded for offline reading in another application as well. Sometimes, I have to select “Download PDF” on a page for the university library in order to have the option to read something as an EPUB file, which is common for the SAGE databases.
To access research sources in an EPUB format, I will use one or more of the following tools:
- Enlarge text size with browser zoom or Reading options menu
- Sideloading content into an eReader or eReading application for offline reading or reference. Send-to-Kindle is one example of a free tool that can be used for saving offline readings.
- Adjusting font alignment and font size using either built-in browser tools or another eReading application
- Use an outline or table of contents to navigate to headings or topics of interest
- Bookmark or highlight text using an eReading application
- Listen to text read out loud with built-in text-to-speech, or import the EPUB into another application for reading.
Another source I use for finding books and articles in EPUB format is Bookshare, an online accessible library for users with print disabilities that is free for students in the United States. I used Bookshare to find titles that had been published by Routledge, so I could take notes more easily in Microsoft Word.
Related links
- Mainstream eReader Apps and Low Vision Accessibility
- How I Use My eReader For School and Online Classes
- Sideloading and Low Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: eReaders
- My Favorite Free Fonts For Print Disabilities
- Reading Bookshare Titles With Microsoft Word
Accessing research sources in PDF format
Out of all of the digital text formats I’ve mentioned, I admittedly like PDF the least out of all of them because the format itself isn’t very flexible or customizable. I can’t adjust the line spacing, font style, or enlarge text without zooming in/magnifying the page and having to scroll horizontally. Also, if a PDF is scanned as an image, I can’t use a screen reader or text-to-speech to read any of the text. That said, there are still ways for me to access research sources in a PDF format, including:
- Enlarging text with a screen magnification program
- Converting the PDF to HTML using the free Paper to HTML web tool
- Import the PDF into another audio reading program such as Voice Dream, which can display the plain text and read the text out loud
- Sideload the PDF into another program such as Send-to-Kindle, which has an option for importing an adaptive file format that supports custom text formatting (line spacing, font size, etc.).
- Use web browser to read PDF, with option for Read Aloud available in PDFs that have OCR support. Elsevier and JSTOR in my experience did not work well with Read Aloud in the web browser.
- Open PDF in Microsoft Word. To do this, select Open, followed by Browse, and then select the file of choice.
Related links
- Paper to HTML | Allen Institute for AI
- How I Use Send-To-Kindle With Low Vision
- Free Digital Bookmarking Tools For Low Vision
- Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word
Digitizing sources into accessible text
If I come across text that I am interested in reading but can’t find in an accessible format, I have a few tools I can use for enlarging materials or digitizing sources into accessible text. Depending on the type of content, I have a few options for requesting or remediating text into an accessible format, including:
- Using a video magnifier or CCTV to enlarge text.
- Scanning text from a page or having it read out loud with a scanning pen. I personally use the Scanmarker Air.
- Scanning text with my smartphone into a visual assistance app that can recognize text from an image.
- Requesting a digital copy of materials from my college library or assistive technology office, which can provide copies of educational materials.
- Submitting a request to Bookshare with the ISBN included.
- Requesting an interlibrary loan for digital content.
- Contacting the author of a paper and asking if they can send a digital copy. This has worked incredibly well for me, and I have received copies of papers in DOCX (Word) and PDF. Some authors will also post an expanded version of their articles on personal websites, which can be helpful for locating additional sources.
Many college and university libraries offer tools for digitizing text such as scanners, scanning pens, video magnifiers, and librarian services at no additional cost to students.
Related links
- ScanMarker Air: OCR Scanner Pen for Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- How I Access Historical Documents With Low Vision
- How To Request Accessible Textbooks In College
- How Bookshare Books Come To Life
- All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired
- OCR Scanner Apps For Low Vision Students
Other options for reading research sources with assistive technology
- If a PDF or HTML page supports highlighting/selecting text, another option is to copy and paste the selected text into a program like Microsoft Word to adjust the formatting. Alternatively, if the user needs very large text on a simplified display, consider Ways To Use Teleprompter Apps As Assistive Technology
- Need help searching for keywords? Read Web Search Tips and Operators For Low Vision
- Want to read more posts in the Writing Success series? Visit Writing Success Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes or view the Reading/Writing category at Reading And Writing Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes
Published April 27, 2020. Updated May 2026