Access to Our Publications for Those With
A Reading Impairment

Palgrave Macmillan understands that many students are unable to access traditional printed publications due to impairments which affect their ability to read or manipulate a book. We are spending a lot of time working alongside the Publishers Association with government, educational institutions and charitable bodies, to try and bring about a significant improvement in the availability of accessible formats for the reading impaired.

We recognise that one very simple step publishers can take, is to make publications available electronically, so that they can be used in conjunction with a user’s screen reading software, or output to other accessible formats suitable for the particular requirements of individual users. Supply of un-encrypted, electronic files direct to an end user, is not without issues, but publishers recognise the importance of making the texts available and are, in most cases, prepared to supply files on a simple licensing basis.

If you haven’t already visited www.publisherlookup.org.uk please do so. The Site has been put together by the JISC TechDis service in conjunction with the UK Publisher’s Association. You can use the site to look up the correct publisher contact for any publisher from whom you might need to source electronic files, and find out what information you need to supply. It also contains really useful background information about the publishing process, applying for files, and adapting books for the learner’s requirements.

If you want to make a request for a PDF of a Palgrave Macmillan publication please complete the form below. For security reasons, we only supply files to named members of staff at the end user’s educational institution.

Please note that we do not require the reading impaired student to purchase a printed copy of the book, but we do make a charge for the files which is equivalent to the cheapest bound edition available.

Alternatively, we are able offer a library license that allows the library to loan out the book in an accessible format. In the case that your institution’s library has already purchased bound copies of the title, there will be no additional charge. This license is recommended for titles where multiple reading impaired students need access to specific sections or chapters, rather than core course reading.

Please give as much notice of your requirement as possible, we do always aim to respond to enquiries within one to two weeks, but during busy periods and staff absences it can sometimes take longer.

To order PDF files please complete this form:

*Must be permanent member of staff at Institution

If you have any questions please contact rights@palgrave.com or visit www.publisherlookup.org.uk/whattoexpect.php which gives information on many of the issues surrounding use of publisher files to create accessible formats.