Question 1

What makes a PDF accessible?

Accepted Answer

An accessible PDF must have:
      
        Tags: Structural tags (headings, paragraphs, lists) that define document hierarchy
        Reading order: Logical sequence that screen readers follow
        Alt text: Descriptions for all images, charts, and non-text content
        Language: Document language specified for proper pronunciation
        Document title: Meaningful title (not just filename)
        Accessible forms: Form fields with labels and tooltips
        Color contrast: Sufficient contrast ratios (4.5:1 minimum)
        Security: No restrictions that block screen readers
        Bookmarks: Navigation aids for long documents
        Tables: Proper table headers and structure
      
      PDFs meeting these requirements comply with PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility) standard.

Question 2

How do I create an accessible PDF?

Accepted Answer

Best practice is to create accessibility in the source document:
      Microsoft Word:
      
        Use built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.)
        Add alt text to images (Right-click → Edit Alt Text)
        Use built-in list tools (not manual bullets)
        Create tables with header rows
        Set document language (Review → Language)
        Add document title (File → Properties)
        Run Accessibility Checker (Review → Check Accessibility)
        Export: File → Save As → PDF → Options → check "Document structure tags for accessibility"
      
      Adobe InDesign:
      
        Use paragraph styles for headings
        Add alt text in Object Export Options
        Tag reading order properly
        Export as Adobe PDF (Print) with accessibility enabled

Question 3

How can I test if my PDF is accessible?

Accepted Answer

Use these tools to verify PDF accessibility:
      Professional Tools:
      
        Adobe Acrobat Pro: Tools → Accessibility → Full Check (most comprehensive)
        PAC 3: Free PDF Accessibility Checker from Access for All (Switzerland)
        PAVE: Free PDF Accessibility Validation Engine
        CommonLook PDF: Professional remediation and validation tool
      
      Screen Reader Testing:
      
        NVDA (Windows): Free, widely used
        JAWS (Windows): Professional screen reader
        VoiceOver (Mac): Built-in macOS screen reader
      
      Quick checks:
      
        Try selecting text (if you can't select, it's probably an image)
        Use Adobe Reader's Read Out Loud feature
        Check File → Properties for Title and Language

Question 4

What are PDF tags and why are they important?

Accepted Answer

PDF tags are structural elements that define the document's content hierarchy, similar to HTML tags: Common PDF tags:

to

: Heading levels
: Paragraphs ,
: Lists and list items , ,
: Tables
: Images and graphics : Hyperlinks Why tags matter: Screen readers use tags to navigate and announce content Defines reading order for assistive technology Allows users to jump between headings, lists, tables Required for PDF/UA compliance Improves reflow for mobile devices Untagged PDFs are essentially images to screen readers - users can't navigate or understand structure.

Question 5

Can I make scanned PDFs accessible?

Accepted Answer

Scanned PDFs (images of pages) require OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and additional work:
      
        Run OCR: Use Adobe Acrobat's Enhance Scans feature or similar tool
        Add tags: After OCR, add structural tags (usually requires Acrobat Pro)
        Set reading order: Define logical sequence for content
        Add alt text: Describe images, charts, and diagrams
        Verify text: Check OCR accuracy and fix errors
        Add metadata: Set title, language, and other properties
      
      Better approach: If you have the original document, create a tagged PDF from the source instead of scanning. Scanned PDFs require significantly more work to make accessible.
      Alternative: Consider creating an accessible HTML version alongside the PDF for better accessibility.

Question 6

Why are PDFs problematic for accessibility?

Accepted Answer

PDFs present unique accessibility challenges:
      
        Not web-native: Require special reader software
        Complex structure: Tagging is not automatic like HTML
        Poor mobile experience: Don't reflow well on small screens
        Reading order issues: Multi-column layouts confuse screen readers
        Forms: PDF forms are harder to make accessible than HTML forms
        Remediation: Fixing accessibility requires professional tools
      
      Best practice: Provide HTML versions of content when possible. Use PDFs only when necessary (official documents, printable forms, etc.).
      When PDFs are required: Invest in proper tagging and testing to ensure accessibility.

PDF Accessibility Checker – Learn PDF/UA Standards

PDF Accessibility Checker

PDF Accessibility

Key Requirements

Recommended Tools

Adobe Acrobat Pro

PAC 3 (Free)

NVDA + PDF

Creating Accessible PDFs

Examples of Real-World Usage

Government Agencies

Document Accessibility Specialists

Legal & Compliance Teams

Content Creators & Publishers

Educational Institutions

Healthcare Providers

PDF Accessibility Guidelines & Resources

PDF File Upload

8 Accessibility Checks

Educational Guidelines

Tool Recommendations

Best Practice Guide

Detailed Reports

WCAG PDF/UA Standards

Client-Side Processing

How to Use the PDF Accessibility Checker

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?