Accessibility on MUSE

Mission Statement

Project MUSE is committed to creating products that are fully accessible to all users. To this end, we strive to ensure our content conforms to the AA level of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 and 2.2) and EN 301 549 Accessibility Standard (V3.2.1), and follows the technical specifications of the Revised Section 508 Standards (published January 2017 and corrected January 2018). MUSE also offers its publishers an Accessibility Guide for how to make their content as accessible as possible on MUSE.

Compliance

Compliance to Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 and 2.2, and EN 301 549 Accessibility Standard is measured by the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT 2.5). All content on MUSE operates under the specifications in the attached VPAT.

Download Project MUSE VPAT
(Updated 6/30/24)

Accessibility Roadmap

This phased approach allows us to deliver substantive accessibility improvements incrementally while ensuring full alignment with WCAG 2.1 AA by the April 2026 deadline.

February 2026

  • Release of enhanced accessibility assets across the platform, including:
    • Alt text for images, initially prioritizing content in HTML and EPUB format.
    • VTT caption files for the majority of video and audio content hosted on MUSE.
  • These updates significantly expand support for non-text content and time-based media.

March 2026

  • Begin remediation of older EPUB files where feasible, focusing on:
    • Improved structural markup
    • Accessibility metadata
    • Alignment with current EPUB accessibility best practices
    • Continue accessibility testing to validate improvements against WCAG criteria.
  • Begin distributing accessibile PDFs not supplied by publishers.
  • Continue alt text for HTML and EPUB.

March-April 2026

  • Implement platform-level updates to surface accessibility metadata for individual pieces of content. This will allow libraries and end users to clearly understand the accessibility features available for each title.
  • Finalize remaining site-level adjustments identified through testing and audits.

April-May 2026

  • Publish an updated VPAT reflecting all recent accessibility enhancements. This represents a shift from our usual January update cycle to ensure the VPAT accurately reflects the completed remediation work and platform changes.

Personalized Reading Experience

Project MUSE allows users to personalize their reading experience on the platform via user settings including high contrast mode and dark mode. These features are available to all users, and those with MyMUSE accounts may save these settings for automatic application whenever using the platform while logged in to their account.

Free Document Readers and Playback Software

Project MUSE provides content in multiple formats. Some formats require third-party software to access. MUSE does not offer an in-browser EPUB reader. EPUB files must be downloaded and opened using a compatible reader or application. You may download free document readers or playback software from the following sources:

External Application Compliance

The document readers above are not under Project MUSE's control, and we can't affect their level of accessibility. The links listed below will bring you to their parent company's compliance documentation where you can be better informed about their practices and dedication to accessibility for their users.

Feedback

If you find something on MUSE that is not accessible, please enter the information below so we can address the issue.



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