How do I make sure my PDF is accessible to everyone?

Use the Accessibility tools in Acrobat Pro. First, automatically tag the PDF to define its structure. Then, check and fix the reading order. Finally, run the Accessibility Checker to find and fix any remaining issues like missing alt text or incorrect headings.

Accessible Safety Deliverables in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”Regulatory asked for accessible documentation of the product's safety features before their…+

Regulatory asked for accessible documentation of the product's safety features before their review board meets next week. I'm not sure which accessibility format they prefer and I need the approval to proceed. Recommend the documentation format that satisfies most regulatory reviewers, list the safety items that must be highlighted, and draft the short submission cover that frames the document for compliance reviewers.

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.

Who does this

3 roles

Accessibility SpecialistInstructional DesignerDocument Remediator

FAQ

about this task

Use the Accessibility tools in Acrobat Pro.
First, automatically tag the PDF to define its structure.
Then, check and fix the reading order.
Finally, run the Accessibility Checker to find and fix any remaining issues like missing alt text or incorrect headings.

PDF/UA is a specific standard for PDF files, meaning it only applies to PDFs. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a broader set of rules for all kinds of digital content, not just PDFs. Many rules and laws require you to meet both standards for your documents to be fully accessible.

It is much easier and saves a lot of time to make your original document (like a Word file) accessible first. When you export an accessible Word file to PDF, the PDF will often keep its accessibility features. Fixing problems in a PDF after it's created can be very difficult and take a lot of time, especially if the PDF was not tagged correctly from the start.

Yes, Acrobat can help make scanned PDFs accessible. The 'Automatically tag PDF' feature uses smart technology to identify headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs in both native and scanned PDFs. However, you will still need to manually check and fix things like reading order and alt text, as automation is not perfect for complex scanned content.

Reading order is the sequence in which assistive technologies, like screen readers, present the content of a PDF to a user. It is important because if the reading order is wrong, a person using a screen reader might hear sentences or paragraphs in a confusing or illogical sequence. Correct reading order ensures the document makes sense to everyone.

Accessible Safety Deliverables

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides