IngramSpark Adds an Accessibility Evaluation Tool for Ebook Uploads

What changed at IngramSpark? IngramSpark has added an Accessibility Evaluation tool to its Book-Building Tool, so authors and publishers can check ebook files for common accessibility problems before a reader hits them. The company announced the feature on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

The evaluation is now included with every Spark account. It scans the ebook interior, flags issues, and points you to the chapter that needs work. IngramSpark is clear about what it is not: the tool does not certify a book as compliant, and it is not a substitute for full content validation. It is meant to catch the problems most authors miss.

What the tool checks

The evaluation walks through five checks, one section at a time.

Alt text. Any image without a written description is flagged, with a link to the chapter. IngramSpark asks for a description between 4 and 125 characters, or you can mark the image decorative so screen readers skip it.

Table headers. Without headers, a screen reader can turn a table into a string of disconnected words and numbers. The tool finds tables missing that structure and offers a one-click fix that selects every flagged table at once.

Link text. Vague phrases such as "click here" or "learn more" are flagged so you can replace them with wording that says where the link goes. That matters for screen readers, keyboards and voice commands.

Headings. Headings need a clear order from H1 to H2 to H3. The check flags skipped or out-of-sequence headings and lets you fix them one by one or reorder them automatically.

Navigation. Internal links and the table of contents should point to real places inside the book. This check catches the ones that do not.

Each section shows its own status. A warning means work remains; a checkmark means that section is done.

How it fits into a Spark upload

The evaluation launches after you upload an interior file, and you can reopen it from the left-hand navigation menu. Nothing is mandatory. You can skip a section and come back later. Some checks include one-click fixes, and Help Center links sit inside the review screen.

Right now the tool is available for ebook-only and print-and-ebook setups in the Book-Building Tool. IngramSpark's post also points authors to its File Creation Guide for POD and ebook upload requirements.

Why accessible ebooks matter

Most accessibility problems are invisible in a normal proofread. A missing table header or a vague link will not jump out on a laptop screen, but they can stop someone using a screen reader from finishing the book. IngramSpark frames the feature as a way to remove barriers for readers who rely on assistive technology, without claiming the scan makes a title fully compliant on its own.

Why it matters for authors

You can catch issues before a library or retailer rejects the file. More libraries and platforms care about accessible EPUBs. Running the Spark checks before you lock the file is cheaper than fixing a title after it is live.

It is free with your account. Every Spark account gets the evaluation. You do not need a separate paid accessibility service to start.

Still do a human pass. The company says the tool will not certify compliance. If you are selling into markets with strict accessibility rules, treat the Spark scan as a first pass, then have someone who knows EPUB accessibility review the file. PT's comparison of IngramSpark and KDP Print covers how the two print and ebook paths differ for indie authors.

Sources

• IngramSpark: It's Now Easier to Make Your Ebook Accessible (October 15, 2026)