How can I check if my PDF is truly accessible after I've made changes?

Use the 'Full Check' (Accessibility Checker) tool in Acrobat Pro to find common problems. Manually review the reading order to ensure content flows logically. Check all images to make sure they have helpful alt text. Navigate the PDF using only the keyboard to test tab order and interactive elements.

Accessible Methods Document in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”We need an accessible version of a 25-page technical methods document for reviewers next week.…+

We need an accessible version of a 25-page technical methods document for reviewers next week. The original has complex tables and images. I am not sure which accessibility fixes are essential versus optional. Diagnose whether the immediate compliance risk is table structure, alt text, or document tagging; give me the prioritized checklist of fixes to apply in order and a short note to the reviewers explaining what was done and what remains.

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

PDF/UA is a specific standard for PDF documents, focusing on how the PDF itself is built for accessibility. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a broader set of guidelines for all digital content, not just PDFs. Many regulated tasks need both standards to be met to ensure full accessibility.

Auto-tagging adds a hidden structure to your PDF, telling assistive technologies what each part of the document is (like a heading, paragraph, or list). This helps screen readers understand the content better, making it easier for users to navigate and understand the document.

Remediating an existing untagged PDF can take a lot of time and effort. While Acrobat can auto-tag, you will still need to manually check and fix many things like reading order, alt text for images, and complex tables. It's often easier to go back to the original source file if possible.

Use the 'Full Check' (Accessibility Checker) tool in Acrobat Pro to find common problems.
Manually review the reading order to ensure content flows logically.
Check all images to make sure they have helpful alt text.
Navigate the PDF using only the keyboard to test tab order and interactive elements.

Fixing accessibility in the source document, such as a Word file, is much more efficient. When you create an accessible source document, the exported PDF will often inherit many of those accessibility features, reducing the need for extensive remediation in Acrobat. This saves time and ensures a higher quality accessible PDF from the start.

Accessible Methods Document

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides