How do I make sure my PDF form is accessible for everyone?

Start with a well-organized source document. Add a label and a 'Tooltip' (description for screen readers) to every form field. Ensure the tab order is correct so users can navigate easily. Use simple, clear fonts and a minimum size of 11pt. Run the Accessibility Checker in Acrobat before you share the form.

Adopt Single Compliant E-Form in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

DBecome — “help me grow”We waste time because departments follow different signature and form steps and compliance…+

We waste time because departments follow different signature and form steps and compliance flags that during audits. Propose a governance model and rollout plan that makes the office-wide e-form and e-signature process the default within six months. Include one metric that proves adoption and one small concession that helps skeptical departments switch without undermining 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 your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
2
From the global bar in the upper left, select All tools.
3
Select the accessibility tool to prepare your PDF for accessibility.
4
Click the option to automatically tag form fields to ensure the PDF is tagged and form fields are recognized.
Best practiceAuto-tagging saves time but always review tags for accuracy, especially on complex forms.
5
Select Prepare Form from the tools menu.
6
Add, edit, or delete form fields as needed using the toolbar (e.g., text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns).
Best practiceUse clear, descriptive field names and tooltips to improve screen reader accessibility.
7
Right-click each form field and select Properties, then enter a meaningful Tooltip for each field.
RecommendationTooltips are read by screen readers and are essential for accessibility.
8
Check and adjust the tab order of form fields to ensure logical navigation for keyboard and assistive technology users.
Best practiceSet tab order to 'Order Tabs Manually' for precise control, especially if auto-ordering is incorrect.
9
Run the Accessibility Checker to identify and fix any remaining accessibility issues.
RecommendationAddress all flagged issues, especially those related to form fields and reading order.
10
Save your PDF.

In the appWith the API

After adding fields, use the Accessibility Checker to verify your form is fully accessible before distributing.

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

Glossary

words on this page

E-FormAn electronic form that people can fill out on a computer or device.ExampleInstead of printing, you can fill out the E-Form directly on your computer and submit it online.

Fillable FormA document with spaces that people can type into or select options from.

Accessibility CheckerA tool that checks if your document is easy for all people, including those with disabilities, to use.ExampleRunning the Accessibility Checker helped identify images missing alternative text descriptions.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

I want the office to adopt a single, compliant e-form and signature process so we stop patchwork workarounds.

FAQ

about this task

Start with a well-organized source document.
Add a label and a 'Tooltip' (description for screen readers) to every form field.
Ensure the tab order is correct so users can navigate easily.
Use simple, clear fonts and a minimum size of 11pt.
Run the Accessibility Checker in Acrobat before you share the form.

Enabling saving rights for Adobe Reader users lets them fill out your form and then save their changes. Without this, they would lose all the information they typed when they close the document. This makes your form much more user-friendly and practical for many people.

Creating forms in Microsoft Word often leads to problems when converting to PDF, especially with accessible form fields. Word's form tools do not export well to accessible PDF. Adobe Acrobat's 'Prepare a Form' tool is designed specifically for creating accessible PDF forms, ensuring fields are correctly tagged and work properly for all users, including those using screen readers.

Yes, you can use 'Prepare a Form' with a scanned document. Acrobat will try to detect fields, but you will likely need to add form fields manually. It's best to start with a digital document if possible, but a scanned image can be a starting point for adding fields.

Tooltips are short descriptions linked to each form field. They matter because screen readers use them to tell visually impaired users what each field is for. A good Tooltip makes your form much easier for everyone to understand and use, improving accessibility.

Adopt Single Compliant E-Form

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides