NEW: Creating Accessible PDFs

How to Make PDF Documents Accessible

You need to ensure your source document is accessible. For example, when you create a document using Microsoft Word, you can improve its accessibility before you convert it to PDF:

• • • Use a proper document structure with headings and lists to make the content easier to navigate for users utilizing screen readers.
    • Use PDF accessibility tools, such as tags and metadata, to ensure the document is compatible with assistive technology and meets accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.1 and PDF/UA.
    • Provide alternative text descriptions for non-text content like images and charts, so people who are visually impaired can understand the information.
    • Use high-contrast colors and accessible fonts to make the text easier to read for those with visual impairments.
    • Use meaningful link text and ensure that all links are descriptive and clearly indicate where they will take the user.
    • Embed all fonts used in the document and set the document language for use for screen readers and other assistive technology.
    • Tag document contents in the form of tables and lists to be used by assistive technology.
    • Include navigational aids such as bookmarks and links to help readers move around the document quickly and easily.
    • Test the document’s accessibility using accessibility checkers and assistive technology to ensure it is fully accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

Follow the instructions and best practices below to create PDF documents that are correctly structured, include alternative text descriptions for non-text content, use appropriate fonts and styles and provide navigational aids that make them easy to use for all readers:

Checking the document structure

Creating the document structure with auto tags

Creating the document structure manually

Editing tags

Changing the tag type

Deleting a tag

Viewing the role map

Managing artifacts

Defining the logical reading order

Embedding fonts

Guidelines to tag tables

Guidelines to tag lists

Setting the document language

Tagging hyperlinks

Marking a Document PDF/UA as compliant