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Accessible PDF documents

Types of documents with accessibility problems are those that -

• contain only scanned images of pages
• are not "tagged" because they were developed using an older version of Acrobat
• do not contain "alt" text for images, text links, or image links.

Most people do not create PDF documents in Acrobat, they use Microsoft Word.

• Use Styles to define structure - heading, list, columns, etc.
• Don't rely on color alone to convey information---combine color with other format such as bold or underline.
• Choose Format>Column to create columns
• Use Acrobat to add "alt" text to include URL for text links that don't make sense - click here
• provide "alt" text for images
  • click on image
  • right click
  • choose Format Picture
  • choose Web tab
  • enter "alt" text
• Convert to PDF settings
• Add Bookmarks
• Add Links
• Enable Accessibility and Reflow with Tagged PDF (critical)
• Security Tab- Enable text access for Screen Reader Devices...
• Bookmarks Tab - select level of bookmarks and style.

Accessible PDF document may/should contain the following

• logical reading order (tagged by creator)
• "alt" text for images and links
• bookmarks
• table of contents for navigation
• natural language identification

Resources

• Reading PDF documents with Adobe Reader 6.0: A guide for people with disabilities - http://www.adobe.com/enterprise/accessibility/reader/main.html
• Accessible Acrobat Reader Download site - http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html
• Adobe Reader 6.0 accessibility FAQ - http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_faq.html
• Creating Accessible Adobe PDF Files: A Guide for Document Authors (PDF: 4.3M) - http://www.adobe.com/enterprise/accessibility/pdfs/acro6_pg_ue.pdf
• WebAIM Adobe Acrobat Accessibility Techniques - http://www.webaim.org/techniques/acrobat/
• Creating Accessible PDF Documents with Adobe Acrobat 6 Professional - http://www.htctu.fhda.edu/publications/conferences/roundtable/accessPDF/start.htm
• Delivering Accessible PDFs with Adobe Applications - http://www.htctu.fhda.edu/publications/conferences/AccessingHigherGround_2003/index_files/TextOnly/start.html

Jim Allan, Webmaster & Statewide Technical Support Specialist
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1100 W. 45th St., Austin, Texas 78756
voice 512.206.9315
jimallan@tsbvi.edu

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Last Revision: November 10, 2004