How do I make sure my Reusable Intake Form is easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities?

Give every field a clear label so users know what to type. Add a Tooltip for each field; this describes the field for screen readers. Make sure the tab order is correct so users can navigate fields logically. Run the Accessibility Checker in Acrobat before you share the form.

If my Reusable Intake Form looks good but the text in the fields is too small, what should I check?

Check the font size settings for your form fields. Make sure the font is at least 11pt for good readability. Choose simple, common fonts like Arial or Times New Roman.

What are the key elements every form field in a Reusable Intake Form needs to have?

A clear label to tell users what information to provide. A Tooltip, which is a description for screen readers. A tag, which helps with the structure and accessibility of the form. A correct tab order, so users can move through the fields logically.

Reusable Intake Form in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”Our intake forms vary by clinician and triage decisions are inconsistent. I want a customizable…+

Our intake forms vary by clinician and triage decisions are inconsistent. I want a customizable intake template that collects necessary risk screens and still fits a 15-minute intake. Design the structure and mandatory fields based on what reduces missed risks, explain why each field matters for triage, and give one tip for training staff to adopt it without policing.

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 Adobe Acrobat Pro on your computer.
2
Select the Tools tab.
3
Find and select Prepare Form under Forms.
4
Choose an existing file to use as your form, or select the option to create a new one.
Best practiceIf your form is not already a PDF, convert it to PDF before starting this process.
5
Click Start to let Acrobat detect form fields automatically, or manually add fields as needed.
Best practiceLetting Acrobat auto-detect fields can save time, but always review and adjust the detected fields for accuracy.
6
Use the toolbar to add, move, or delete form fields such as text boxes, checkboxes, and drop-down lists.
7
Double-click any form field to edit its properties, such as name, tooltip, and appearance.
8
When finished, use File > Save to save your fillable PDF form.

In the appWith the API

You can quickly test your form by switching to Preview mode in the Prepare Form tool to see how users will fill it out.

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

Glossary

words on this page

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

TooltipA small message that appears when you point to something, helping people understand what a form field is for.ExampleHovering over the 'Submit' button reveals a tooltip saying 'Click to send your completed form'.

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 need a reusable intake form that other staff will actually use consistently.

FAQ

about this task

Give every field a clear label so users know what to type.
Add a Tooltip for each field; this describes the field for screen readers.
Make sure the tab order is correct so users can navigate fields logically.
Run the Accessibility Checker in Acrobat before you share the form.

Creating forms in Microsoft Word uses Word's own tools, which do not make accessible PDF fields when you save the document as a PDF. Acrobat's 'Prepare a Form' tool is designed specifically to create proper, fillable PDF fields that are also accessible. For best results, always use Acrobat to add the interactive form elements, even if you start with a document made in Word.

Enabling saving rights for Adobe Reader users means they can fill out your form and then save their filled-out copy. If you don't do this, users might lose their entered information if they close the form without printing it. This makes your form much more user-friendly and practical for people who only have Adobe Reader.

Check the font size settings for your form fields.
Make sure the font is at least 11pt for good readability.
Choose simple, common fonts like Arial or Times New Roman.

A clear label to tell users what information to provide.
A Tooltip, which is a description for screen readers.
A tag, which helps with the structure and accessibility of the form.
A correct tab order, so users can move through the fields logically.

Reusable Intake 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