Accessible Textbooks for Every Child
How implementation research and AI-assisted production are removing barriers to inclusive education
About
Nearly 240 million children worldwide live with disabilities, yet many face barriers to education. Children with disabilities aged 10 to 17 are 49 per cent more likely than their peers to have never attended school. For those in school, inaccessible textbooks can limit participation and learning.
UNICEF’s Accessible Digital Textbooks initiative helps governments adapt curriculum-aligned textbooks into flexible digital resources that children with and without disabilities can use together. Features such as audio narration, sign-language videos, simplified text and image descriptions offer different ways to access the same curriculum. This learning brief draws on implementation research across countries to identify what makes these resources accessible and effective. Early findings show that they can support learner engagement and inclusive teaching when the right conditions are in place.
The brief recommends involving children, teachers and persons with disabilities in designing and testing textbooks; providing teachers with practical training and ongoing support; and ensuring schools have suitable devices, connectivity and technical assistance. Government leadership, expert review and safeguards are also essential, particularly when AI supports production. Further research should examine whether accessible textbooks improve participation and learning, compare production costs when using AI, and identify lessons for responsible expansion.
