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Creating Accessible Adobe PDF

Ensuring accessibility in Adobe PDF documents is crucial for creating inclusive content that can be easily accessed by all users, including those who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers. By following best practices for PDF accessibility, you can enhance document navigation, readability, and overall user experience, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can access the information with ease. 

Understanding Screen Readers 

Screen readers are assistive technologies that convert digital text into speech or Braille output, enabling individuals with visual impairments to access and interact with digital content. 

How Screen Readers Work 

  • Convert on-screen text into synthesized speech. 

  • Provide keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation. 

  • Support refreshable Braille displays for tactile reading. 

  • Announce interactive elements such as menus, buttons, and links. 

For more information check: Improve Accessibility with the Accessibility Checker 

WHY Readspeaker?  

Screen readers are crucial for providing accessibility and independence to individuals with visual impairments. They allow users to navigate the web, read documents, and interact with digital tools, which would otherwise be inaccessible. This capability is vital for personal, educational, and professional activities. Moreover, screen readers are essential for meeting legal requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates that websites and digital content be accessible to all users. By ensuring compatibility with screen readers, organizations contribute to a more inclusive digital environment, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can access the same information and services.

How ReadSpeaker

Screen readers are assistive technologies designed to convert digital text into speech or Braille output, allowing individuals with visual impairments to access and interact with digital content. They use text-to-speech (TTS) technology to read aloud the content of a webpage, document, or application. For those who are deafblind, screen readers can also interface with Braille displays to convert the text into Braille characters. Additionally, screen readers help users navigate digital environments by reading headings, links, buttons, and other elements, enabling interaction using keyboard shortcuts.

Essential Steps for Creating an Accessible Adobe PDF:  

Step 1: Open Your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro 

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. 

  1. Click File > Open, then select the PDF file you want to check. 

    Screen shot of Adobe Acrobat homepage with a red box pointing to open file.

Step 2: Open the Accessibility Tool 

  1. Click on the Tools tab at the top left of the screen. This will show all the available tools in Adobe Acrobat. 
    Screen shot of Adobe Acrobat homepage with a red box pointing to All tools.

  1. Scroll down and click on Prepare for Accessibility in the Tools Center. 
    Screen shot of Adobe Acrobat homepage with a red box pointing to prepare for accessibility tool.

Step 3: Run the Accessibility Check 

  1. An accessibility Check dialog box will appear. You can choose specific options for the check, such as checking for reading order, alternative text for images, document structure, and more. 

  1. To check the whole document, click on check for accessibility.  
    Screen shot of Adobe Acrobat homepage with a red box pointing to check for accessibility tool.

  1. Once you click on check for accessibility a dialog box will appear as shown below, click on start checking.  
    Screenshot of Adobe Acrobat homepage with a dialog box pop up and a red box outline showing to start checking accessibility.

Step 4: Review Accessibility Results 

  1. Once the check is completed, the Accessibility Checker Results pane will appear on the left side of the screen. 

  1. The results will show you any potential issues, with details on where the issues are in the document and how to fix them. 

  1. Common issues may include:  

  • Missing alternative text for images. 

  • Incorrect reading order. 

  • Improperly tagged headings and paragraphs.

  • Unreadable form fields. 

Screen shot of Adobe Acrobat homepage with a Accessibility check results pane on the right side of the page.

Step 5: Fix Accessibility Issues 

  1. You can resolve the issues from the Accessibility Checker Results pane by clicking on the issues listed. Adobe Acrobat will provide instructions on how to resolve each issue. 

  1. If you need to edit the document (for example, adding alternative text to images or fixing reading order), you can do so from the Accessibility tool pane or by selecting the options in the Tags panel. 

Step 6: Save Your Document 

After addressing all accessibility issues, save the updated document. You can choose File > Save As to save a copy or overwrite the existing file. 

Note: For further information, assistance, or to learn more about accessibility features, please visit the following link:  More information about Adobe PDF Accesiblity 

Check out following links:

How to use DAK: