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

Standard Focus. PDF/UA Specific rules for PDF documents to be accessible. WCAG General rules for web content accessibility, applies to many technologies, including PDFs.

How can I improve PDF accessibility most effectively?

Fix the original document (like a Word file) before making it a PDF. This is the best way to create an accessible PDF from the start. Use Acrobat's auto-tagging feature, but always check and fix things manually. Pay special attention to reading order, alt text for images, and complex tables.

Last-Minute Accessibility Rush in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

DBecome — “help me grow”Accessibility requests surface too late and force frantic conversions. Across recent board…+

Accessibility requests surface too late and force frantic conversions. Across recent board packs, identify the recurring formatting issues that block screen readers and recommend one document preparation habit and one template tweak that ensures future financial statements are accessible without last-minute fixes.

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

We keep scrambling to make materials accessible at the last minute.

FAQ

about this task

Standard	Focus
PDF/UA	Specific rules for PDF documents to be accessible.
WCAG	General rules for web content accessibility, applies to many technologies, including PDFs.

Fix the original document (like a Word file) before making it a PDF. This is the best way to create an accessible PDF from the start.
Use Acrobat's auto-tagging feature, but always check and fix things manually.
Pay special attention to reading order, alt text for images, and complex tables.

Tagging is the most important step for PDF accessibility because it tells screen readers how the document is structured. Without tags, a screen reader cannot understand the order of content or identify headings, lists, or tables, making the PDF unusable for many people.

Yes, Acrobat's Accessibility Auto-Tag API can tag both native and scanned PDFs. It uses smart technology to identify headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs, even in scanned documents. However, you will still need to manually verify and fix details like reading order and alt text.

The Accessibility Checker is a tool in Acrobat that finds common accessibility problems in your PDF. You should use it to identify issues like incorrect tab order, missing alt text, or heading problems. Fixing these flagged items helps ensure your PDF meets accessibility standards and is usable by more people.

Last-Minute Accessibility Rush

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides