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

Standard Focus. PDF/UA Rules specifically for PDF documents to be accessible. WCAG General rules for making all web content accessible, not just PDFs.

How can I make sure the reading order is correct in my PDF?

After auto-tagging, use the 'Reading Order' tool in Acrobat Pro. Visually check the numbered boxes on the page to make sure they follow a logical flow. Drag and drop elements to reorder them if needed, ensuring screen readers follow the correct path.

Onsite Rule Lookup in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

When to use it

real situations

A government office needs to share public documents that follow legal rules for accessibility.
A company wants all its training manuals to be readable by employees who use screen readers.
A teacher needs to make sure all students, including those with disabilities, can access class handouts.

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”During a visit this morning, a licensee cited an older guidance note that contradicts the…+

During a visit this morning, a licensee cited an older guidance note that contradicts the version I have. The manager insists the older version controls and the case will escalate if I can't show the current rule before I leave. I need to know which document governs now. Tell me how to quickly confirm the authoritative regulation, what exact repository or contact to check within my agency, and the phrasing I should use to tell the licensee I'm acting on the current rule without sounding dismissive.

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.

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

I just encountered a regulation conflict during a site visit and I need the current rule quickly to resolve the dispute on the spot.

FAQ

about this task

Standard	Focus
PDF/UA	Rules specifically for PDF documents to be accessible.
WCAG	General rules for making all web content accessible, not just PDFs.

After auto-tagging, use the 'Reading Order' tool in Acrobat Pro.
Visually check the numbered boxes on the page to make sure they follow a logical flow.
Drag and drop elements to reorder them if needed, ensuring screen readers follow the correct path.

Fixing the original document, like a Word file, means that any PDF you create from it will already have good accessibility. This saves a lot of time and effort compared to fixing problems in the PDF after it has been made. It ensures accessibility from the start.

Yes, Acrobat's auto-tagging API is powered by Sensei, which can tag both native PDFs and scanned PDFs. It can identify headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs even in scanned documents, helping to make them more accessible.

Alt text provides a text description of an image for people who cannot see it, such as those using screen readers. This ensures that everyone understands the information conveyed by the images, making the document fully accessible and understandable.

Onsite Rule Lookup

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides