Enhancing Accessibility in Comic Albums – EnACA

Comics have the unique power to transport us to fantastical realms, reveal captivating stories, provoke intense emotions, and are even used as educational tools. However, even though these dynamic and imaginative worlds have the potential to engage a wide audience, it is essential to recognize that these experiences are not fully accessible to everyone. This is where the concept of comic book accessibility comes into play. In an increasingly diverse and inclusive world, the need to make comics more accessible to individuals with varying abilities, whether visual, auditory, or cognitive, has gained popularity.
From June 2025, the European Accessibility Act will come into effect, requiring publishers to provide alternative digital content for individuals with disabilities. However, comic book publishers will be granted an exception. Their argument is that comic albums, made up of both text and graphic elements, are too complex to adapt into accessible formats. Nevertheless, research in document analysis, particularly in the analysis and understanding of comics, has significantly advanced over the past ten years.
This project will propose innovative approaches using AI to improve the accessibility of comics, ensuring that this cultural medium can be enjoyed by a broader range of readers. The project will focus on visually impaired individuals and will involve psycho-cognitive analysis to develop suitable solutions, comic analysis to extract key elements, the development of accessibility guidelines, and the creation of accessible comic book prototypes for digital devices. These tools will be tested by people with disabilities, and the impact of their use will be studied to assess the relevance of the proposed solutions.