7 Ways of PDF Accessibility You Should Know About

Creating an accessible PDF isn’t just about compliance; it’s about empathy and reaching the widest possible audience. While many people know about “Alt Text,” a truly accessible PDF (PDF/UA) involves much more.

Here are 7 ways to make your PDFs inclusive.

1. Tags (The Foundation)

Tags provide the hidden structure of the document. They tell a screen reader “This is a Heading 1,” “This is a paragraph,” “This is a list.” Without tags, a PDF is just a soup of words.

2. Reading Order

Visually, a sidebar might appear on the right. But in the code, it might be at the bottom. You must define the logical reading order so a screen reader doesn’t jump around confusingly.

3. Alternative Text (Alt Text)

Every image that conveys meaning must have a text description. “Chart showing 50% growth” is good. “Image1.jpg” is useless. Decorative images should be marked as “Artifacts” so screen readers ignore them.

4. Table Headers

Data tables are a nightmare for blind users if not tagged correctly. You must identify which cells are Row Headers and Column Headers so the user knows what the data point “15%” refers to.

5. Language Definition

You must set the document language (e.g., English, Spanish). This tells the screen reader which pronunciation engine to use. Listening to English text with a French accent is very difficult to understand!

6. Color Contrast

Ensure there is sufficient contrast between text and background. This helps users with low vision or color blindness. Avoid using color alone to convey meaning (e.g., “Click the red button”).

7. Bookmarks

For long documents (over 10 pages), bookmarks provide a table of contents that allows users to skip sections and navigate efficiently.

Conclusion

By implementing these 7 features, you ensure your documents are professional, compliant, and welcoming to everyone.

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