How do I fix reading order in a PDF for IRB standards?

Open the Reading Order tool from Prepare for accessibility. Check the order boxes appear in the right sequence. Drag or renumber the boxes if the order is wrong. Save the changes when the reading order matches how the document should be read.

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

PDF/UA WCAG. PDF-specific standard Works for all digital content types Focuses on PDF structure and tags Focuses on user experience and content accessibility Often needed for legal compliance Required for websites and documents in many laws

If my scan is blurry, will auto-tagging fix accessibility for IRB submission?

Auto-tagging works better on clear, digital PDFs. Blurry scans may not get correct tags or reading order. You may need to fix the scan or use OCR before tagging.

What are the main steps to make a PDF accessible using Adobe Acrobat?

Use Prepare for accessibility to start. Auto-tag the PDF. Check and fix reading order. Run the accessibility checker and fix any problems.

Meet IRB Standards in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Create and apply a department policy that encrypts and retains signed consent forms and…+

Create and apply a department policy that encrypts and retains signed consent forms and manuscripts to meet IRB standards, and roll it out to the faculty folder.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Draft and enforce the policy: build PDF encryption and retention rules for signed consent forms…+

Draft and enforce the policy: build PDF encryption and retention rules for signed consent forms and manuscripts, specify password handling, retention periods, and access roles, apply these settings to the faculty shared folder, and produce a one‑page guidance note for faculty compliance.

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 file to be checked in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
2
Select Tools in the upper left, then add or open the Accessibility tool.
3
In the Accessibility pane, select Full Check.
4
In the dialog that opens, under Report Options, ensure Create accessibility report is checked.
5
Under Checking Options, select the desired standard (e.g., WCAG 2.0 or PDF/UA) if available.
NoteIf your version of Acrobat does not list PDF/UA or WCAG options, the checker will still test for core accessibility issues relevant to both standards.
6
Click Start Checking to run the accessibility check.
7
Review the results in the Accessibility Checker panel; expand each section to see issues flagged.
8
Address all issues marked as Failed or Needs manual check by following the recommended fixes or using the Fix option where available.
Best practiceFor best results, avoid using 'Print to PDF' when creating documents, as this removes accessibility tags and formatting.
9
Repeat the accessibility check after making corrections to confirm compliance.
10
Save a copy of the accessibility report for documentation or auditing purposes.
Best practiceAlways verify that text is selectable and not an image; scanned PDFs are not accessible and should be remediated or recreated.

In the appWith the API

The Accessibility Checker panel provides a detailed breakdown of compliance issues and links directly to problem elements in your PDF.

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

Glossary

words on this page

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.

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.

Reading orderThe order in which a screen reader reads the content on a page, which should follow a logical flow.ExampleA screen reader follows the specified reading order to present the document's content logically.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Create and enforce a department policy for encrypting and retaining signed consent forms and manuscripts to meet institutional review board standards.

FAQ

about this task

Open the Reading Order tool from Prepare for accessibility.
Check the order boxes appear in the right sequence.
Drag or renumber the boxes if the order is wrong.
Save the changes when the reading order matches how the document should be read.

PDF/UA	WCAG
PDF-specific standard	Works for all digital content types
Focuses on PDF structure and tags	Focuses on user experience and content accessibility
Often needed for legal compliance	Required for websites and documents in many laws

Tagging is important because it tells screen readers what each part of the PDF is, like headings, lists, or tables. Without tags, people who use assistive technology may not understand your document, and it may not meet IRB or legal standards.

Auto-tagging works better on clear, digital PDFs.
Blurry scans may not get correct tags or reading order.
You may need to fix the scan or use OCR before tagging.

Use Prepare for accessibility to start.
Auto-tag the PDF.
Check and fix reading order.
Run the accessibility checker and fix any problems.

Meet IRB Standards

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides