Create Accessible PDFs

Create Accessible PDFs

The workflow process for remediating PDF documents for accessibility can be cumbersome and there are several techniques and steps that can be used to achieve compliance. The amount of accessibility remediation can depend upon on the source document and how it was created.

Characteristics of Accessible PDF files

• The PDF will have searchable text
• Alternate text descriptions (Alt Text) is added to all images and media
• Fonts are used that allow characters to be extracted to text
• Reading order and document structure tags have been added and checked
• PDFs will have Interactive form fields that allow the users the enter values into the form fields
• Document language is specified in the PDF.
• The security settings do not interfere with assistive software

Converting a Microsoft Document to a PDF

Accessible documents can be created in Microsoft Office programs and converted to PDFs easily and it is important to create your source documents with accessible formatting in mind. 

If a Microsoft file is not the final format that you want to present to readers, you’ll need to convert it into another format.  PDF’s are the best format to retain the print styles and formatting of Microsoft documents. Saving your document to a PDF format may or may not cause some loss of formatting depending on the document contents and the settings selected when saving it.

1. Select File > Export > Create an Adobe PDF/XPS
2. Select the Create Adobe PDF, select Yes to save the file and continue.
3. Select the Options menu to ensure the Document Structure tags for accessibility is checked
4. Select Document from the Publish what menu
5. In the Include non-printing information, de-select the Document properties
6. Ensure the Document structure tags for accessibility is checked and select Okay
7. Select a file folder, add a title to the document and Publish.

WATCH VIDEO: CONVERT OR SAVE TO A PDF (1:04 MIN)

Scanned PDFs and Accessibility Compliance

When a PDF is originated from a scan, the scan presents the PDF as an image rather than a document, and this will require more time and steps to convert the image to an accessible document. If a PDF originates from a scan, you will need to perform an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to convert the image of text to actual characters that can be formatted and recognized as text by a screen reader. 

Tip: If you use scanned pdfs, check with your Subject Librarian first to find a digital resource to link to your course instead of a scanned PDF.

Ally for Elearning PDF Remediation

Scanning pages from old text books results in inaccessible documents. Scanned texts are highly inaccessible, and create lots of challenges for all students to read and study effectively. When you come across a scanned PDF, do your best to replace it with a proper digital text document. 

Tip: Ensure the scanned text is clean, scanned straight (not having any text on an angle), and does not have notes and highlighting throughout the text or margins. 

1. Scanned PDFs get a low accessibility score indicator 
2. Select the Accessibility score indicator to learn more about the document accessibility issues and how to fix them.
3. Use the Ally links below to guide your PDF accessibility remediation.

Tag a PDF from the original source file  

OCR and Tag a PDF using the Alternative Format download 

After the PDF OCR download, re-upload the OCR version of the PDF. This is not a final solution, but will enhance the accessibility/readability. 

Add a Library Reference 

Original document remediation

If the original document was created in MS Word, use the original to add accessible formatting and upload when finished. To remediate, reference the Create Accessible Microsoft Word documents Help Hub article.   

Adobe PDF remediation- Requires Adobe DC