How do I make sure my PDF meets accessibility standards like WCAG?

First, use Acrobat's 'Automatically tag PDF' feature. Then, manually check and fix the reading order, alt text for images, and table structures. Finally, run the 'Full Check' (Accessibility Checker) to find and fix any remaining issues. This process helps meet standards like WCAG.

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

Standard Focus Scope. PDF/UA Specific to PDF documents, ensuring technical accessibility. Ensures the PDF itself is structured correctly for accessibility. WCAG General guidelines for web content accessibility, applies to many technologies. Ensures content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users.

Create Accessible Filing in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Create an accessible court filing version of our brief: run accessibility checks, add necessary…+

Create an accessible court filing version of our brief: run accessibility checks, add necessary tags, verify reading order, and export the tagged PDF for filing by [deadline=tomorrow morning].

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Before filing the brief, avoid rejection by clerks: run and fix accessibility issues, add tags…+

Before filing the brief, avoid rejection by clerks: run and fix accessibility issues, add tags and correct reading order, ensure headings and alt text for exhibits are present, embed fonts, and export a verified tagged PDF that meets the court's accessibility checklist so clerks can process it without asking for a replacement.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the PDF document you want to check for accessibility.
2
Click the Tools tab at the top of the Acrobat window.
3
Scroll through the list and select Accessibility to add the Accessibility tools to your workspace if they are not already visible.
Best practiceIf you do not see the Accessibility tools, you may need to add them from the Tools pane as they are not shown by default.
4
In the Accessibility tools pane, click Full Check.
5
In the Accessibility Checker Options dialog, review the settings and click Start Checking.
Best practiceFor a thorough check, ensure all checkboxes are selected before starting the check.
6
Review the results displayed in the Accessibility Checker panel on the left side of the screen.

In the appWith the API

You can right-click in the Navigation Pane to show the Accessibility tags panel for more detailed tag inspection.

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.

Alt textA short description for images so people who cannot see them know what they show.ExampleA person using a screen reader hears 'a red bicycle leaning against a brick wall' when they encounter the image.

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.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Create an accessible court filing version of our brief so the tribunal's clerks can process it without issues.

FAQ

about this task

First, use Acrobat's 'Automatically tag PDF' feature.
Then, manually check and fix the reading order, alt text for images, and table structures.
Finally, run the 'Full Check' (Accessibility Checker) to find and fix any remaining issues. This process helps meet standards like WCAG.

Standard	Focus	Scope
PDF/UA	Specific to PDF documents, ensuring technical accessibility.	Ensures the PDF itself is structured correctly for accessibility.
WCAG	General guidelines for web content accessibility, applies to many technologies.	Ensures content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users.

Fixing accessibility in the original document (like Microsoft Word) saves a lot of time and effort. When you export an accessible Word document to PDF, many accessibility features transfer automatically. This means less work is needed to fix the PDF later, which is often a long and difficult process.

Yes, Acrobat can help. The 'Automatically tag PDF' feature uses smart technology to add structure to both native and scanned PDFs. This allows screen readers to understand the content, even if it started as an image.

The 'Reading Order tool' lets you manually adjust the order in which content is read by assistive technologies. This is very important because if the reading order is wrong, a screen reader might jump around the document, making it confusing. You use this tool to ensure a logical flow for all users.

Create Accessible Filing

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides