About

What if technology and information could empower all people? Born Accessible is a global literacy initiative by Benetech, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing social and economic inequity. We harness the power of software and data to empower communities and address some of world’s most challenging social problems. We’re creating positive, lasting impact in the communities we serve and transforming how people across the globe read, learn, and work. We believe that access to information is a human right, and no person should encounter barriers due to differences or disability.

Our Work

Education. Every person deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education. Were leveling the playing field with accessible reading materials so that every student has the support that they need to read, learn, and achieve their potential.

Employment. People with reading barriers and disabilities around the world often lack equal access to information and employment. We’re enabling individuals and communities to acquire knowledge and build skills that can help them find meaningful work or advance in their careers, as well as access services that help build sustainable livelihoods.

Social Inclusion. More than ninety percent of books and published materials cannot be read by people with disabilities. We’re making information accessible so that everyone can learn, work, socialize, and pursue their dreams.

Our Solutions

Born Accessible. Digital content can—and should—be accessible from the start, or “born accessible. We understand how to identify the possibilities and resolve the challenges of digital content creation and distribution, which is where Global Certified Accessible (GCA) comes into play. As the first-ever independent third-party digital accessibility certification program, our goal is to help publishers build born accessible content that meets the needs of all readers. Learn more about certification

Bookshare. Bookshare is the world’s largest collection of ebooks for people that read differently. The collection has over 5 million books and empowers hundreds of thousands of people who cannot read traditional books due to print disabilities. Readers can listen to books, see and hear words as they are highlighted, read in braille or large font, and customize their reading experience in ways that work for them. Learn more about Bookshare.