IncluPub
A format for accessible EPUB 3 publications, such as self-paced courses and books.
Every IncluPub publication is a valid EPUB that any reading system can open. All publications share a strict common core: accessibility is enforced, not recommended. Profiles add the structure and logic of a kind of publication on top of it and never relax a rule of the core.
The common core
- EPUB 3.3 and EPUB Accessibility 1.2 at WCAG 2.2 level AA, without active content.
- Mandatory alternatives for every block: alternative texts, extended descriptions, table headers, captions and transcripts.
- Equivalent variants of content for different senses and needs, such as Easy Language or sign language.
- Read-along narration with synthetic voices generated locally, and a pronunciation lexicon.
- Glossary, appendices, footnotes or endnotes, a bibliography with citations in a chosen citation style, series, version history, title page and imprint.
Profiles
Self-paced courses
A course is at the same time a complete exchange format for learning platforms: modules and units, questions and learning objectives, graded assessments, rules for completion and prerequisites, and data for digital credentials.
Books
A book is a linear publication without course logic, meant to be read from beginning to end in any reading system: chapters, optionally grouped in parts, front and back matter, exercises with solutions, and bibliographic data such as subtitle, ISBN and edition.
The IncluPub mark
Every IncluPub publication shows this mark in its imprint, next to its accessibility summary, with a statement such as “This EPUB conforms to the IncluPub course profile 0.1.” It means that this package passed the validation of the format in that version, the rules of the common core and of its profile included, and EPUBCheck. The rules are checked by software; anyone can check a package again with the free validator. The mark may be used only for packages that conform.
Status
IncluPub is in development. The specification is a draft and not yet published. The addresses under inclu.pub for the profiles, the vocabulary and the schemas are reserved and will serve these documents once they are published.
Who is behind it
IncluPub is developed by tollwerk GmbH for the tollwerk Academy, a platform for fully accessible online learning.
Questions and feedback: info@inclu.pub.