Guide
How to make historical documents accessible for low vision
Strategies for accessing historical documents and primary source materials in several formats with assistive technology for low vision/visual access
As part of my academic research and personal side projects, I often encounter primary source and historical documents that feature low resolution images, faded or low contrast colors, or other quality issues that make them more difficult to read. Of course, I love it when I find accessible content in formats I can read or that has been remediated/made accessible for people with print disabilities like me, but sometimes I have to find my own workarounds for accessing content. Here is a list of strategies for how I access historical documents with low vision, including tips for multiple types of content and additional resources.
Typewritten documents
Typewritten documents are inclusive of documents that are produced using a typewriter or computer. Unlike handwriting, each typewritten letter/number/symbol has a generally consistent appearance and size. This consistency makes typewritten documents a great candidate for optical character recognition (OCR) technologies, which recognize text from images, though OCR content will need to be proofread for errors.
Strategies for reading typewritten documents with assistive technology for visual access include:
- Scanning text or having text read out loud with a scanning pen. I use the Scanmarker Air which can read up to size 24 pt font and supports multiple languages, and the text can be copy/pasted into any application
- Using a visual assistance or visual interpreting app with my phone or tablet camera. To read or scan content, I hold the device over the page with either my hand or a stand, and can listen to text read out loud with synthesized speech or have text displayed with large print.
- Handheld or desktop video magnifiers can also be used to magnify text- some also have OCR capabilities. The built-in video magnifier for iOS/iPad is one example of a video magnifier tool that also has OCR, though users cannot copy/paste text.
- Single pages can be scanned into a computer and read out loud with specialty software that extracts text from scanned content.
Related links
- ScanMarker Air for Print Disabilities
- All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired
- iOS Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility
- Awesome On-Campus College Library Resources
Handwritten documents
Handwritten documents may not have consistent size or appearance for letters/numbers/symbols, and older documents may have faded ink colors as well. OCR technology is less reliable for detecting text, especially cursive text, because handwriting styles are often unique to the individual and may not have consistent letter sizes or shapes.
Strategies for reading handwritten documents with assistive technology for visual access include:
- Enabling a color filter on desktop or video magnifiers to increase visibility of text, which can be helpful for poor contrast. Invert colors/inverted displays are a popular choice and available as built-in device settings
- Acetate sheets or colored overlays can be placed on top of pages, which can reduce glare from bright white pages and improve readability
- If available, adding additional task lighting such as lamps or clip-on reading lights can make text easier to read, either with or without additional magnifying aids
- Taking a photo or scanning handwritten documents to read them on a tablet or phone allows users to use pinch-to-zoom gestures or apply additional image filters
- Some visual assistance apps such as Seeing AI and Envision AI have options for reading handwritten text specifically
Related links
- How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision
- High Contrast and Low Vision
- Lighting And Low Vision
- Using The Envision App With Low Vision
- Microsoft Seeing AI And Low Vision
Newspapers
Most of the newspapers I encounter in my own resource are in digital formats of some sort, but have low resolution scans that make it difficult to read text. Alternatively, the multi-column layouts of text can be challenging to read with double vision, as I have trouble tracking where one line ends and the next line begins.
Strategies for reading newspapers and news articles with assistive technology for visual access include:
- Enabling a color filter on video magnification tools to improve the contrast of text, which may be faded or hard to read otherwise
- Reading text-based transcripts of content or archived web pages instead of scanned copies of text, which may contain artifacts or blurred font. Of course, it’s important to read OCR-generated text carefully, as it may not have been proofread for errors or formatting issues.
- Using a line guide or typoscope to block out surrounding text and display fewer lines at a time. This is especially helpful for multi-column layouts.
- Displaying web content with a simplified reading display, which removes visual clutter like webpage headings, ads, and other non-essential visual content while displaying text in a consistent font size.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- Accessing The News With Assistive Technology
Reading PDF copies of text
Even though they are one of the most common formats for digital archiving, I don’t live PDFs very much as someone with low vision. I can’t adjust the line spacing, font style, or enlarge text without zooming in/magnifying the page and having to scroll horizontally. Also, if a PDF is scanned as an image, I can’t use a screen reader or text-to-speech to read any of the text. In order for a PDF to be accessible for screen reader users or with text-to-speech, it will need to be a Tagged PDF, which includes important structural elements such as headings as well as OCR text that can be read by a screen reader.
Strategies for reading scanned PDFs with assistive technology for visual access include:
- If the PDF is a scanned image, the “best” option for visual access that doesn’t involve converting any formats is going to involve using screen magnification and/or browser zoom to enlarge text, scrolling horizontally to read individual lines. Display filters may help with improving the readability of text. I have used Microsoft Lens to scan in physical copies of text successfully
- If the PDF is tagged or has OCR supported, screen readers or text-to-speech/Read Aloud tools will work for reading text, or for copy/pasting text into another program.
- Another option is to open PDF documents in Microsoft Word, which can help with enlarging font sizes or using tools like Read Mode or Immersive Reader. To do this, select Open, followed by Browse, and then select the file of choice. This can also be helpful for taking notes
- Convert the PDF to an HTML document using a tool like Paper to HTML, which provides more options for large print
- If reading from an academic journal, check to see if the file is available in other formats- many research databases offer options for other file types in addition to PDF
Related links
- How To Use Text-To-Speech With Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft Lens With Low Vision
- Reading Bookshare Titles With Microsoft Word
- How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology
- Paper to HTML | Allen Institute for AI
Primary source videos/film
Primary source videos and films that are archived with museums, presidential libraries, and similar sources often include a captioning file and/or transcripts that can be read by the viewer to get more information. Transcripts also often include a description of visual content in the video/film. Viewers that are sensitive to flashing or flickering animations may prefer to read transcripts for primary source videos as they may contain floaters or flickering effects depending on the quality of the film.
Strategies for watching primary source videos and films with assistive technology for visual access include:
- Watching videos on an external monitor or larger display can help with identifying visual details. This can be done by connecting a wired device or using wireless options like Chromecast or AirPlay.
- Alternatively, watching videos on a smaller display like an iPad may provide a more comfortable viewing experience due to the slanted/angled display that can be held closer to the face. Additionally, users can magnify video content with the pinch-to-zoom gesture on the touch screen.
- Many accessible media offices for colleges and universities offer options for requesting audio described content, which is an additional narrative track that describes visual information on the screen.
- Large print captions may take up too much space on the screen or block important content. When possible, use a transcript to supplement audio content that is shared as a Word document, HTML, plain text file, or other responsive format.
- Researchers can create their own audio descriptions for public videos on YouTube using the free YouDescribe tool
Related links
- How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights
- What To Know About College Assistive Technology Specialists
- How To Describe Primary Source Videos For Visually Impaired Audiences
- DCMP: Free Audio Described Videos For Classrooms
Images/photographs
The majority of libraries, museum archives, and similar sources will have a caption or image description linked with digital copies of images/photographs that provides information about significant visual details, such as who is in the picture and where it was taken. This is similar to including alt text for an image, though the caption/image description is “exposed” so that anyone can read it.
Strategies for viewing historical photos/images with assistive technology for visual access include:
- Search for high resolution copies of images online using reverse image search tools or tools that show additional sizes for an image.
- Use image recognition/exploration tools for exploring individual components of an image, such as the Seeing AI image recognition tool
- View images on a tablet or slanted display, which can provide a more comfortable viewing angle compared to laying an image flat on a table
- Create audio narrated images that provide descriptions of what is in an image, which can be used for later reference or for describing individual components
- When possible, open images in a new tab instead of zooming in on a page
Related links
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- Recognizing Images With Seeing AI
- Creating Audio Narrated Images For Low Vision
- How To Write Alt Text And Image Descriptions For Photojournalism Images
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
Audio recordings
While audio recordings themselves do not involve any visual content and are theoretically a great format for accessing content, audio playback tools may be difficult to use with screen readers or contain small buttons that are hard to see.
Strategies for listening to audio recordings with assistive technology for visual access include:
- Download audio files for playback in another application that has labeled buttons
- Use an audio playback tool that has raised buttons or tactile labels, which is easier to manipulate compared to flat buttons on a screen
- Connect playback devices to a smart speaker, which can be used with voice controls/commands
- Adjust the playback speed to facilitate notetaking
- Learn keyboard shortcuts for listening to audio players, e.g. pressing the spacebar to pause content.
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Headphones
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: MP3 Players
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smart Speakers
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Listen To History
- The Best Study Tips For Auditory Learners
Maps (physical and digital)
Maps often have a high level of visual detail that require more careful examination compared to reading text, as each letter and symbol are of critical importance. Personally, I prefer to read digital maps when possible, as larger maps may be cut off or more difficult for me to read due to the size, while digital maps can be fit to my device screen.
Strategies for viewing maps with assistive technology for visual access include:
- Use handheld video magnifiers to explore the layout of a page in individual sections and add display filters/adjust magnification accordingly. Many handheld video magnifiers can also be connected to an external monitor
- Depending on the page size, an X-Y table can be used to display a map and view content with a desktop video magnifier, which provides additional precision for navigating a page
- To block out visual clutter or concentrate on a specific area, one option is to use an index card or construction paper to block out surrounding visual information, or to place a typoscope over an area of interest to black out surrounding content.
- Google Earth Timelapse and Google Historical Imagery provide free copies of digital maps that can be used with existing Google products
- The Library of Congress offers several thousand high resolution images of historical maps, which can be used with screen magnification.
Related links
- Magnifying Glasses For Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Map Charts For Low Vision
- Choosing Accessible Microscopes For Low Vision
- Google Historical Imagery: Google Earth Pro, Maps and Timelapse – Google News Initiative
- Collections with Maps | Maps | Library of Congress (loc.gov)
More resources on how I access historical documents with low vision
- Wondering how I find accessible copies of historical books or similar content? I share a list of resources in How I Find Research Sources In Accessible Formats
- Interested in learning even more about digital text access? Read A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- The vast majority of my academic research is conducted using online resources from my university library. Learn more in Online College Library Resources For Digital Access
This post on accessing historical documents with low vision is written by Veronica Lewis, M.Ed. and reposted with permission from Veronica With Four Eyes.
Published August 2018. Updated June 2025
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