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

After auto-tagging, go to 'All tools' > 'Prepare for accessibility'. Select the 'Reading Order' tool. Visually check the numbered boxes to ensure text flows logically. Drag and drop or reorder elements as needed to correct the sequence.

Design Access Rules in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Design access rules so only senior underwriters and compliance can view sensitive health…+

Design access rules so only senior underwriters and compliance can view sensitive health underwriting files — configure trusted identities and set password policies for the folder that holds health files, and document the rule set for IT.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Before I lock down health files, make the access rules defensible — restrict view and download…+

Before I lock down health files, make the access rules defensible — restrict view and download rights to the named senior underwriters and compliance, require strong password and two-factor identities, log all access, and produce a short matrix showing who has rights and why for audit review by IT security.

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

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.

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 a PDF's internal structure supports accessibility. WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is a broader, technology-agnostic standard that applies to all web content, including PDFs. Many regulated tasks require meeting both standards.

Fixing accessibility issues in the original document (like a Word file) before converting it to PDF saves a lot of time. When the source is accessible, the PDF export will likely be accessible too. This avoids the time-consuming process of fixing an untagged PDF later.

After auto-tagging, go to 'All tools' > 'Prepare for accessibility'.
Select the 'Reading Order' tool.
Visually check the numbered boxes to ensure text flows logically.
Drag and drop or reorder elements as needed to correct the sequence.

The Accessibility Checker is a tool in Acrobat that scans your PDF for common accessibility problems. It flags issues like missing alt text, incorrect heading levels, or poor tab order. Using it helps you find and fix problems, making your PDF usable for people with disabilities and ensuring it meets accessibility standards.

Yes, even scanned PDFs can be made accessible. Acrobat's auto-tagging feature, powered by Sensei, can tag headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs in both native and scanned PDFs. You will still need to manually verify and fix any remaining issues after the auto-tagging process.

Design Access Rules

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides