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

First, use the 'Automatically tag PDF' tool to add basic structure. Then, use the 'Reading Order' tool to check and fix how content is read. Finally, run the 'Accessibility Checker' to find and fix any remaining problems like missing alt text or incorrect headings.

If my PDF survey has many images, how do I make sure they are accessible?

After auto-tagging, you must manually add 'alt text' to each image. Alt text describes the image for people who cannot see it. Use the 'Accessibility Checker' to find images that are missing alt text. Make sure the alt text is clear and accurately describes the image's purpose or content.

Check Surveys For Errors in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”Review these survey PDFs and identify methodological inconsistencies — sampling intervals,…+

Review these survey PDFs and identify methodological inconsistencies — sampling intervals, datum mismatches, or missing metadata — that would make updating maps incorrect. Prioritize the three errors most likely to change map outputs and give me the exact return message to the surveying team asking for corrections, including which files to resend and what minimal metadata to include.

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

First, use the 'Automatically tag PDF' tool to add basic structure.
Then, use the 'Reading Order' tool to check and fix how content is read.
Finally, run the 'Accessibility Checker' to find and fix any remaining problems like missing alt text or incorrect headings.

PDF/UA is a specific standard for PDF files. It tells you how a PDF itself must be structured to be accessible. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a broader set of rules for all digital content, not just PDFs. Many regulated documents need to follow both PDF/UA and WCAG to meet legal requirements, ensuring both the file format and its content are accessible.

It is much better to fix accessibility in the original document, like a Word file, before you save it as a PDF. When you create an accessible source document, the PDF exported from it will often be accessible too. This saves a lot of time and effort compared to fixing problems directly in the PDF later, which can be very time-consuming, especially for untagged PDFs.

After auto-tagging, you must manually add 'alt text' to each image. Alt text describes the image for people who cannot see it.
Use the 'Accessibility Checker' to find images that are missing alt text.
Make sure the alt text is clear and accurately describes the image's purpose or content.

'Reading order' is the sequence in which a screen reader or other assistive technology reads the content of your PDF. It is important because if the reading order is wrong, a user might hear parts of the survey in a confusing or illogical sequence. Ensuring the correct reading order makes the survey understandable and usable for everyone, especially those using assistive devices.

Check Surveys For Errors

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides