How do I make sure my PDF is accessible for people with disabilities?

First, use Acrobat's 'Automatically tag PDF' tool. Second, check and fix the 'Reading Order' of your content. Third, run the 'Accessibility Checker' to find any remaining issues. Finally, manually fix problems like missing alt text for images or incorrect headings.

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

Standard Focus Scope. PDF/UA Specific to PDF documents Ensures technical accessibility features within a PDF. WCAG General web content guidelines Covers accessibility for all digital content, including PDFs, but is not PDF-specific.

Produce Accessible Paper in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Create an accessible PDF of my conference paper with proper tags and structure so screen‑reader…+

Create an accessible PDF of my conference paper with proper tags and structure so screen‑reader users can follow the argument, run the accessibility verifier, and fix any flagged issues before upload.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Make the paper truly usable for attendees with screen readers — add semantic headings and alt…+

Make the paper truly usable for attendees with screen readers — add semantic headings and alt text for every figure, ensure reading order matches the narrative, provide a tagged table of contents and descriptive link text, then run the verifier and produce a short checklist of remaining issues for the conference organizer to approve.

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.

TagsHidden labels in a PDF that tell screen readers what each part of the document is (like a heading or a paragraph).ExampleScreen readers use hidden tags to tell users whether a part of the document is a list item or a table.

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.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Produce an accessible version of a conference paper so attendees with screen readers can follow the argument.

FAQ

about this task

First, use Acrobat's 'Automatically tag PDF' tool.
Second, check and fix the 'Reading Order' of your content.
Third, run the 'Accessibility Checker' to find any remaining issues.
Finally, manually fix problems like missing alt text for images or incorrect headings.

Standard	Focus	Scope
PDF/UA	Specific to PDF documents	Ensures technical accessibility features within a PDF.
WCAG	General web content guidelines	Covers accessibility for all digital content, including PDFs, but is not PDF-specific.

Fixing the source document, like a Word file, saves a lot of time and effort. If the original file is already set up with proper headings, lists, and image descriptions, the PDF created from it will be much more accessible from the start. This means less work is needed to fix the PDF later.

Auto-tagging uses smart technology to automatically add hidden labels, called tags, to your PDF. These tags identify parts like headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables. This helps screen readers understand the structure of your document, making it easier for people with visual impairments to navigate.

Yes, even scanned PDFs can be made accessible. Acrobat's auto-tagging feature, powered by Sensei, can process both native and scanned PDFs. It will add tags for headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs. However, you will still need to manually check the reading order and add alt text for any images in the scanned document.

Produce Accessible Paper

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides