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.

Batch check multiple PDFs for accessibility in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Check these PDFs for accessibility issues: [list of files]…+

Check these PDFs for accessibility issues: [list the PDF files or folder here]. Show me a summary of the results.

when the reply comes backWould you like tips on fixing common accessibility issues in PDFs?

BImprove — “do it better”Suggest ways to make accessibility checking faster or more accurate for...…+

Suggest ways to make accessibility checking faster or more accurate for these PDFs: [list the PDF files or folder here].

when the reply comes backDo you need help understanding the accessibility report results?

CDecide — “help me choose”Compare tools for batch checking PDF accessibility and recommend the best...…+

Compare tools for batch checking PDF accessibility and recommend the best option for my needs. My main goal is: [describe your goal, e.g., speed, accuracy, cost].

when the reply comes backWant to learn how to set up batch checking in Adobe Acrobat?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open Adobe Acrobat Pro.
2
Go to Tools and select Action Wizard.
3
Click New Action to create a custom batch process.
4
In the available tools panel, scroll to and add Accessibility: Full Check to the action steps.
5
Set the input option to Files or Folder depending on whether you want to select individual PDFs or an entire folder.
6
Click Save and give your action a name (e.g., 'Batch Accessibility Check').
7
Run the new action by selecting it from the Action Wizard list.
8
Add all PDFs or folders you wish to check when prompted.
9
Start the action and allow Acrobat to process all selected PDFs for accessibility compliance.
10
Review the generated accessibility reports for each PDF to identify compliance issues.
Best practiceBefore running the batch check, ensure all PDFs are not scanned images, as image-only PDFs cannot be fully checked for accessibility.

In the appWith the API

You can automate accessibility checks on many PDFs at once using the Action Wizard in Acrobat Pro.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

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.

Batch checkChecking many files at once instead of one by one.ExampleYou can batch check 20 documents for specific keywords all at once.

PDFA common file type used to share documents that look the same everywhere.ExampleShe saved the brochure as a PDF so everyone would see the exact same layout and fonts.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

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

FAQ

about this task

In Adobe Acrobat, you can use the Action Wizard to run the accessibility checker on many PDFs at once. This saves time compared to checking each file one by one.

Accessibility for PDFs means that people with disabilities, such as those using screen readers, can read and use the documents easily. This often involves proper tagging, reading order, and text descriptions for images.

Checking PDF accessibility ensures that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access and understand your documents. This is important for fairness and may be required by law or school rules.

Some free tools and plugins can check PDF accessibility, but Adobe Acrobat's batch feature is more reliable and offers more detailed reports. Choose based on your needs and budget.

If problems are found, review the report to see what needs fixing, such as missing tags or image descriptions. You can often fix these in Adobe Acrobat or by editing the original document and making a new PDF.

Batch check multiple PDFs for accessibility

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides