Toward Inclusive Audiobook Production for Older Adults with Vision Loss
AUTHOR(S) & CREDENTIALS: Signe Lund Mathiesen, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education
AFFILIATED INSTITUTION(S): Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Academy for Research and Education, Toronto, Canada
Toward Inclusive Audiobook Production for Older Adults with Vision Loss
Signe Lund Mathiesen is a postdoctoral researcher whose work explores how sound and aesthetics shape human perception and emotion. With an interdisciplinary background and a passion for qualitative methods, Signe studies how older adults adapt to sensory changes—particularly vision loss—and how these changes influence their engagement with spoken stories. As an EPIC-AT Fellow, she is committed to advancing aging and accessibility research and to developing real-world solutions that support the well-being of older adults.
Signe’s interest in inclusive audiobook design began when she started speaking with older adults living with vision impairment. Although audiobooks are often assumed to be inherently accessible, their experiences told a different story. For these listeners, audiobooks are more than entertainment—they serve as a vital source of learning, comfort, and social connection. Yet participants described significant barriers: difficulty navigating chapters, inconsistent app interfaces, and distracting narration quality or synthetic voices that disrupted the listening experience. These challenges revealed a clear disconnect between commercial audiobook production and the lived experiences of older adults with sensory loss—a gap Signe set out to address.
As part of the Policy and AgeTech EPIC-AT course, Signe developed a policy brief examining accessible audiobook production standards. Drawing on her research and interviews with older adults, the brief reviews key industry guidelines and initiatives, including the W3C Audiobook Recommendation, the CELA Accessible Commercial Audiobooks Project, and national library service guidelines from NNELS. While these efforts improve structural accessibility, Signe’s analysis highlights the need to move beyond technical specifications to address the sensory, cognitive, and emotional realities of older listeners.
Engaging with narratives is central to staying cognitively stimulated, emotionally connected, and socially engaged throughout life. As people age and some experience vision loss, transitioning to auditory narratives can be challenging when audiobooks are not designed with their needs in mind. Signe’s work shows that listening to books is often a profoundly social activity for older adults, enabling participation in book clubs, shared storytelling, and meaningful conversations. Her research underscores the importance of designing audiobooks that preserve these connections.
Signe’s policy brief outlines three key recommendations:
- Create national experiential accessibility guidelines for audiobooks that reflect the sensory and emotional aspects of listening.
- Fund co-design initiatives that engage older adults with vision or dual sensory loss to ensure user-centered development.
- Launch a voluntary certification program to label “auditory accessible” titles, signaling that usability and inclusion were prioritized.
These actions could guide publishers, technology developers, and policymakers toward standards that ensure audiobooks are truly inclusive.
The societal impact of Signe’s work is significant. Inclusive audiobook design can reduce isolation, foster social participation, and support lifelong learning for older adults with vision loss. By centering the voices of older listeners and encouraging collaboration among researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers, this project aims to make narrative engagement more meaningful, equitable, and enjoyable for all.
Signe Lund Mathiesen’s research highlights how thoughtful audiobook production can bridge the gap between technology and lived experience, ensuring that everyone—regardless of sensory ability—has the opportunity to stay connected through stories.
Read Signe Lund Mathiesen’s full policy brief here!
