What is the difference between PDF/UA and WCAG for PDF accessibility?

PDF/UA is a specific standard for PDF documents, making sure they are accessible. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a broader set of rules for all web content, not just PDFs. Often, regulated work needs to meet both standards for full accessibility.

How can I make sure my PDF's reading order is correct?

Go to 'All tools' > 'Prepare for accessibility'. Select 'Reading Order tool'. Visually check the numbered boxes to ensure text flows logically. Drag and drop elements if needed to change their order.

Why is it better to fix accessibility problems in the source document, like Microsoft Word?

It is much better to fix accessibility issues in the original document, like a Word file, before you save it as a PDF. If you fix the source, all new PDFs you make from that source will already be accessible. This saves a lot of time and effort compared to fixing an untagged PDF after it's already created, which can be very time-consuming.

What does 'cloud-based auto-tagging' mean for PDF accessibility?

Cloud-based auto-tagging means that Adobe's powerful Sensei AI technology, running on the internet (in the cloud), automatically adds tags to your PDF. It can identify headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs. This works for both native PDFs (made from digital files) and scanned PDFs (images of documents).

If my PDF is a scanned document, can I still make it accessible?

Yes, even scanned PDFs can be made accessible. Adobe's auto-tagging feature uses AI to recognize text and structure in scanned documents. It will add tags for headings, paragraphs, and other elements, which is the first step to making your scanned PDF usable by screen readers.

Automate accessibility checking and tagging via API in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Check my PDF for accessibility and tag it using the API...…+

Check my PDF for accessibility and add tags using the [API name] API. The file is [file location].

when the reply comes backWould you like a summary report of the accessibility check?

BImprove — “do it better”Review my PDF tags and suggest improvements for accessibility...…+

Review the tags in my PDF (located at [file location]) and suggest how to improve accessibility using the API.

when the reply comes backNeed help fixing any issues found in your PDF?

CDecide — “help me choose”Compare different APIs for automating PDF accessibility and tagging...…+

Compare different APIs for automating PDF accessibility checking and tagging. Which one is best for [my needs]?

when the reply comes backWant to schedule regular automated checks for new PDFs?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Obtain API credentials by creating a project in the Adobe Developer Console and enabling the PDF Services API.
CautionYou must have an Adobe developer account and appropriate permissions to access the APIs.
2
Install the Adobe PDF Services SDK or set up HTTP requests to interact with the API endpoints.
3
Send a POST request to the Accessibility Checker API endpoint with your PDF file as input to check for accessibility compliance.
NoteThe Accessibility Checker API evaluates machine-verifiable PDF/UA and WCAG requirements and returns a detailed report.
4
Download and review the accessibility report (HTML or JSON) returned by the API to identify issues.
5
If the report indicates missing or incorrect tags, send the PDF to the Auto-Tag API endpoint to automatically add or improve accessibility tags.
Best practiceAuto-Tag API uses AI to tag tables, headings, and other elements, significantly accelerating remediation for large document batches.
6
Download the remediated PDF from the Auto-Tag API response.
7
Optionally, re-submit the remediated PDF to the Accessibility Checker API to verify improved compliance.
Best practiceAlways check that the PDF contains real, searchable text and not just images; scanned PDFs are not accessible to screen readers.

In the appWith the API

You can manually check and fix accessibility in Acrobat, but for large volumes, automation via API is much faster and more consistent.

Adobe PDF Services API provides both the Accessibility Checker API for compliance reports and the Auto-Tag API for automated remediation.

Glossary

words on this page

AccessibilityMaking sure everyone, including people with disabilities, can use something.ExampleThe website was designed with Accessibility in mind, so screen readers can easily navigate it.

TaggingAdding labels to parts of a document so screen readers can understand it.ExampleTagging a document helps visually impaired users navigate its content with a screen reader.

APIA way for different software to talk to each other automatically.ExampleAn online store uses an API to automatically send shipping details to a delivery service.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Want to make all my public scholarship reliably accessible without last-minute fixes

FAQ

about this task

You can use an API by connecting your PDF files to a program that talks to Adobe Acrobat's tools. This program will scan your PDF for accessibility problems and can add tags automatically so that everyone can read it easily.

Tagging a PDF means adding special labels to text, images, and tables so that screen readers and other assistive tools can understand the structure and content of the document.

Automating accessibility checks saves time, reduces mistakes, and helps make sure all your documents are easy for everyone to use, especially if you have many files to check.

You can use different APIs, not just Adobe's, to check and tag PDFs for accessibility. Some other tools may offer features or pricing that fit your needs better.

If your PDF fails the check, the tool will usually give you a list of problems. You can then fix these issues, either by hand or by using more features from the API to make your document accessible.

Automate accessibility checking and tagging via API

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides