How do I make sure my PDF meets accessibility standards?

Use Acrobat's 'Automatically tag PDF' feature first. Then, manually check the 'Reading Order' of your document. Run the 'Accessibility Checker' and fix any issues it finds, especially for images and tables.

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

Standard Focus Use. PDF/UA Specific to PDF documents, ensures technical accessibility of the file format. Often needed for highly regulated work, ensures the PDF structure is sound. WCAG General guidelines for web content accessibility, applies to many technologies. Commonly required for all digital content, focuses on user experience and content readability.

Meet Accessibility Standards in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Prepare an accessible copy of the financial statements for visually impaired directors by…+

Prepare an accessible copy of the financial statements for visually impaired directors by tagging the PDF for accessibility, running the accessibility check, and delivering the verified file to [approver=Director Ellen] [deadline=two days before the meeting].

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

BImprove — “do it better”Before sending to [approver=Director Ellen], make it genuinely usable — ensure reading order is…+

Before sending to [approver=Director Ellen], make it genuinely usable — ensure reading order is logical, add descriptive alt text for charts showing key figures, run the full accessibility check and fix errors, and include a one-page summary she can open with her screen reader listing the main numbers and changes.

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 file to be checked in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
2
Select Tools in the upper left, then add or open the Accessibility tool.
3
In the Accessibility pane, select Full Check.
4
In the dialog that opens, under Report Options, ensure Create accessibility report is checked.
5
Under Checking Options, select the desired standard (e.g., WCAG 2.0 or PDF/UA) if available.
NoteIf your version of Acrobat does not list PDF/UA or WCAG options, the checker will still test for core accessibility issues relevant to both standards.
6
Click Start Checking to run the accessibility check.
7
Review the results in the Accessibility Checker panel; expand each section to see issues flagged.
8
Address all issues marked as Failed or Needs manual check by following the recommended fixes or using the Fix option where available.
Best practiceFor best results, avoid using 'Print to PDF' when creating documents, as this removes accessibility tags and formatting.
9
Repeat the accessibility check after making corrections to confirm compliance.
10
Save a copy of the accessibility report for documentation or auditing purposes.
Best practiceAlways verify that text is selectable and not an image; scanned PDFs are not accessible and should be remediated or recreated.

In the appWith the API

The Accessibility Checker panel provides a detailed breakdown of compliance issues and links directly to problem elements in your PDF.

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.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Prepare an accessible copy of financial statements so visually impaired directors can review before the meeting.

FAQ

about this task

Use Acrobat's 'Automatically tag PDF' feature first.
Then, manually check the 'Reading Order' of your document.
Run the 'Accessibility Checker' and fix any issues it finds, especially for images and tables.

Standard	Focus	Use
PDF/UA	Specific to PDF documents, ensures technical accessibility of the file format.	Often needed for highly regulated work, ensures the PDF structure is sound.
WCAG	General guidelines for web content accessibility, applies to many technologies.	Commonly required for all digital content, focuses on user experience and content readability.

It is much better to fix the original document (like a Word file) before you turn it into a PDF. When the source is accessible, the PDF export will be more accessible from the start. This saves a lot of time and effort compared to fixing an already created PDF, which can be very difficult and time-consuming.

If your scanned PDF is blurry, it will be harder to make it accessible. Acrobat's auto-tag feature can work with scanned PDFs and identify language. However, you will still need to carefully check and correct the reading order, add alt text for images, and fix any complex tables manually. It's often best to try to get a clearer scan or the original digital file if possible.

Tagging is the most important step for PDF accessibility. Tags provide the hidden structure that screen readers use to understand the document's content. Without proper tags, a screen reader cannot correctly interpret the document for users with visual impairments.

Meet Accessibility Standards

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides