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Instructions

Getting Started with the Accessibility Training Module for Librarians

Introduction

This guide will walk you through downloading and opening the module on smart phones, tablets, and personal computers.

The module is in the EPUB format. This is the publishing industry standard for digital books. If you read on Kindle or other popular platforms, you are already using it. We chose EPUB as the format for this module for two reasons. First, it is the most accessible digital book format. Second, reading it will give you practice in using accessible EPUB apps.

You can think of an EPUB as a self-contained zipped-up mini-website containing a book arranged as a series of web pages. To read an EPUB e-book, you need a reading system or an EPUB reader to extract these files and present them in a user-friendly way. Some hardware platforms come with a built-in reading system, such as Apple Books for Mac and iPhone, but others may require you to download and install one.

Setting Up Your Reading System

Thorium Reader for Mac provides better accessibility than Apple Books. Dolphin EasyReader provides better accessibility on iPhones and Android devices. PCs do not come with an EPUB reader, but they support both Dolphin EasyReader and Thorium Reader.

Install your reading system before downloading the EPUB Training module, so after you download the file, you can open it in your reading system of choice.

Downloading Training Module (EPUB)

Click the option below for the device you use.


iPhone & iPad

1. IPhones and iPads come with Apple Books as their default EPUB reader. It works if you do not have a reading disability. Dolphin EasyReader provides more accessibility features. To install it, follow this link.

2. Use this link to our Training Module (EPUB). It will open your browser and may prompt you to download the file, or it may automatically download it.

iPhone Screenshot: "Do you want to download Accessible_Training_Module_for_Librarians.epub"?

3. If it automatically downloads the file, you may see one of these two options, depending on your browser.

Two screenshots side by side. On left: CT State Library - Reading for Accessibility: Home Webpage showing the EPUB and link to the "Accessibility Training Module for Librarians" followed by "Instructions - Getting Started - Opening and Reading our EPUB "Accessibility Training Module for Librarians" with a red circle at the bottom left of the screen highlighting the blue down arrow. On right: About:blank With a red oval at the bottom of the page highlighting the file "Accessibility_Tut...Librarians.epub" with a linked text "Open in"

4. If you see only a blue down arrow at the bottom of the screen, click on it to bring up the next prompt.

Screenshot: popup dialog with one option circled in red "Downloads"

5. Click the Downloads option to bring up this list.

Screenshot: Downloads list with the ePub "Accessibility_Tutorial_For... (2 MB) listed With additional links Done and Clear shown

6. Click on the file Accessibility Training Module for Librarians. This should open the EPUB up in your preferred reading system, such as Apple Books or EasyReader. If it does not, or if your original download had the option to "Open in," then the following list of options may appear, and you can choose your reading system.

Screenshot: Standard iPhone open in dialog Options include: Airdrop, Easy Reader which is circled in red highlighting this preferred choice, Messenger, Mail etc.

7. If you do not see your reading app listed, click on the “More…” option to search your iPhone for the app you want.

8. Tapping on the app you want to use will import the training module into its library and open it for you.

Android Phone and Tablet
  1. Android devices do not come with an EPUB reader. Follow these instructions to get the free and accessible Dolphin EasyReader.
  2. Use this link to get the Training Module (EPUB). The link will open in your Chrome browser and prompt you to download the module.
  3. Select the downloaded file and open it with Dolphin EasyReader.
Windows PC
  1. Windows PC computers do not come with an EPUB reader. Follow these instructions to get the free and accessible Thorium Reader. Adobe Digital Editions can also read EPUBs, although its accessibility is uncertain.
  2. Use this link to get the Training Module (EPUB). It will open your default browser and automatically download the file, which will appear in a small window in the upper right corner of your screen.

Screenshot: Downloads Accessibility_Tutorial_For_Librarians.epub with a link Open File and See More

  1. When you click the Open file link, you will see a list of compatible reading systems and EPUB editors that have been installed on your PC.

  2. Choose Thorium Reader or Dolphin EasyReader to add the module to its library and open it.

  3. Use the right and left arrow keys to navigate the book.

  4. In Thorium Reader, click on the open book icon in the top right corner of the app to see options such as viewing the table of contents or using bookmarks.

Screenshot: Thorium Reader with a red arrow and circle highlighting the Navigation menu book icon

Screenshot: Thorium Reader Navigation menu open, showing Table of contents, Landmarks, Bookmarks, Annotations, Search and Go to page options


Mac

Mac computers come with Apple Books as their default EPUB reader. Thorium Reader provides better accessibility features. Installing Dolphin EasyReader is another great option for accessibility.

  1. After you install Thorium, use this link to our Training Module (EPUB) to open your default browser and automatically download the file "Accessibility_Tutorial_For_Librarians.EPUB" to your downloads folder.

  2. Open Finder and select your Downloads folder.

  3. Right click on the file “Accessibility_Tutorial_For_Librarians.EPUB.” This will open the context menu. Select “Open With” either Books.app or Thorium.app.

  4. Use the right and left arrow keys to navigate the pages of the book.

  5. If you want to jump to a specific chapter in the book, move your cursor to the top left and click on the bulleted list icon, as shown in the figure. This will open the table of contents.

Screenshot: top left of the Books.app showing the TOC menu icon.


Dolphin EasyReader

Dolphin EasyReader is available for PC, Mac, Android and iOS.

Key Features of Dolphin EasyReader

EasyReader by Dolphin Computer Access, Ltd., is an easy-to-use, free, accessible reading app for people with print disabilities, including dyslexia, low vision, and blindness.

With Dolphin EasyReader, you can:

  • Read or listen to EPUB, Word, or audio books
  • Search for Direct to Player books and magazines from within the app
  • Listen to a human-sounding voice read text-only titles with text and audio synchronized
  • Easily navigate books
  • Search within the text
  • Add bookmarks
  • Set a sleep timer
  • Adjust colors, text size, highlights, and speed to your preferences
Download the EasyReader App

Visit the App store for an iPhone or iPad, or Google Play for an Android phone or tablet.

Screen shot: Dolphin Easy Reader app page on Play Store, with a big green Install button.

Create a Dolphin Account for EasyReader

To use EasyReader, you must sign in or create a Dolphin account. If you have a Google or Apple account, you can sign in with it, and you do not need a separate Dolphin account. Read below for details.

Screenshot: Welcome page of Dolphin Easy Reader, with a big yellow "Skip" button

To create a Dolphin account:

  • Open Dolphin Easy Reader.
  • Select Sign up for a new Dolphin account. 
  • Enter your email address and select Next.
  • Choose a secure password, at least 6 characters long.
  • Note the email address and password you used for future reference.
  • Select “I agree to the Terms & Conditions” and then select “Sign Up.”
  • A pop-up will appear telling you that your account has been created, and you have been emailed a confirmation.
  • Select OK.
  • Open your E-mail and follow the steps in the message from Dolphin.
  • Log in to EasyReader with your Dolphin account username and password.

Screenshot: Login page on Dolphin Easy Reader for creating a Dolphin account. Two large buttons for Google or Dolphin are available 1

Sign in With Your Apple or Google Account

If you have an Apple or Google account, you can use it with Dolphin. You do not need to create a separate Dolphin account.

To log in using your Apple or Google account:

  • Open Dolphin Easy Reader.
  • Select Sign in with Apple or the Google option.
  • You may be asked to continue with your Touch ID or select your Google account. Follow the prompts.
  • Select “I agree to the Terms & Conditions” and then select “Sign Up.”
  • A pop-up will tell you that you are logged in to EasyReader.
  • Select OK.
Read a Book with EasyReader

Books you have downloaded in EasyReader are available from the My Books page.

To read a book:

Select a book from the My Books page.

  • The book opens.
  • If you want the book read to you automatically using the app’s built-in Text-to-Speech, tap the Play arrow.
  • If this is the first time you have listened to the book, EasyReader will start at the beginning. If you are returning to a book, EasyReader will take you to the last word/phrase/paragraph that it read. If you select a chapter, EasyReader will read it.
  • If you use the VoiceOver screen reader, it will follow the same pattern with VoiceOver reading the highlighted text. To continue reading, select the Play button.
  • For more information on using the skip forward and backward controls in the EasyReader, read the topic on Skip forward and backward.

You can navigate books by heading or chapter, by page number, or by bookmark. It depends on how the book is structured. The default navigation is by heading. The book navigation button is in the bottom left corner of the screen near the Play/Pause button.

To navigate through the book:

  • Select the Book Navigation button to get to a list of headings within the book.
  • From Book Navigation, you can select chapters or pages and jump to them.
  • Tap Play to go to the position you selected.
  • For more information on book navigation, read EasyReader’s navigation help.

Thorium Reader

Thorium Reader is a free EPUB reader for Windows 10 and MacOS.

Downloading Thorium Reader

Here are the links for PC and Mac

Installing Thorium Reader on Windows

Follow the Windows 10 link to this page.

Screenshot: Thorium Reader in Windows App Store, with a red arrow pointing to a red circle with the button "Get in Store app"

1. Click “Get in Store app”

Screenshot: Thorium Reader - red arrow pointing to the "Get" button with a red circle around the button.

2. A pop-up window for Thorium Reader will appear. Click on the blue “Get” button.

Screenshot: Thorium Reader popup dialog with a red arrow pointing to a "Open" button within a red circle

3. After the file downloads, Thorium will be installed on your computer. If you want to use it now, click on the blue Open button. If not, close it.

Installing Thorium Reader on Mac
  1. Click on this link for Thorium on MacOS. The latest version will be downloaded to your downloads folder.
  2. Double-click it to open the installer dialog, as shown in this figure.

Screenshot: Downloads Folder in Finder, with the Thorium 2.0.0 installer dialog showing the Thorium app with an arrow pointing to the Applications folder.

  1. Drag the Thorium.app into the Applications folder

  2. You can open the app from the Applications folder or by using Launchpad.

  3. To add an EPUB to your Thorium library you right click it and choose “Open with Thorium.app.” Another way is to locate the EPUB on your computer by using the + icon as shown in this figure.

Screenshot of the Thorium application with a red arrow pointing to a red circle on the right side with a plus sign icon button.

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