How do I make sure a PDF meets accessibility standards like WCAG?

First, use the 'Automatically tag PDF' tool to add basic structure. Second, manually check and fix the reading order, alt text for images, and headings. Finally, run the 'Full Check' in the Accessibility Checker and fix any remaining issues. This helps meet WCAG guidelines.

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

Standard Focus. PDF/UA Specific to PDF documents, ensuring they are structured for accessibility. WCAG A broader set of guidelines for web content accessibility, not just PDFs. Often required for regulated work.

Finalize Assessment Checklists in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”I have a batch of standard assessment checklists to fill and must sign as reviewer, but some…+

I have a batch of standard assessment checklists to fill and must sign as reviewer, but some items require input from Legal and I don’t have their confirmation. I’m anxious about signing prematurely. Tell me which checklist items I can responsibly complete from our records, which I must hold for Legal, and how to mark my signature so it’s clear what I certified versus what remains open.

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 in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
2
Go to the Tools tab at the top of the window.
3
Scroll through the available tools and select Accessibility to add it to your Tools pane if it is not already present.
Best practiceIf you do not see the Accessibility tool, you can add it from the Tools tab for easier future access.
4
In the right-hand pane, click Check Accessibility.
5
In the Accessibility Checker Options dialog, select the desired checking options or leave the defaults.
6
Click Start Checking to begin the accessibility check.
7
Review the results in the left-hand Accessibility Checker panel, which will display any detected accessibility issues.
Best practiceRight-clicking on an issue in the results panel provides options for fixing or learning more about the problem.

In the appWith the API

You can double-click any issue in the Accessibility Checker panel to jump directly to the problem area in your PDF.

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.

PDF/UAA specific standard for making PDFs accessible.ExampleA company creates a PDF/UA document so visually impaired users can access its content.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Complete assessment checklists and sign before I send to compliance

FAQ

about this task

First, use the 'Automatically tag PDF' tool to add basic structure.
Second, manually check and fix the reading order, alt text for images, and headings.
Finally, run the 'Full Check' in the Accessibility Checker and fix any remaining issues. This helps meet WCAG guidelines.

Standard	Focus
PDF/UA	Specific to PDF documents, ensuring they are structured for accessibility.
WCAG	A broader set of guidelines for web content accessibility, not just PDFs. Often required for regulated work.

It is much better to fix the original document, like a Word file, before converting it to PDF. If the source is accessible, the exported PDF will likely be accessible too. This saves a lot of time and effort compared to fixing an untagged PDF after it has been created, which can be very time-intensive.

Yes, the PDF Accessibility Auto-Tag API is powered by Sensei and can tag headings, tables, lists, and paragraphs even in scanned PDFs. It also identifies the language. However, you will still need to manually verify the results.

The 'reading order' is the sequence in which a screen reader or other assistive technology will read the content of your PDF. It matters because if the reading order is wrong, the content might be read out of context or in a confusing way, making the document hard to understand for users with visual impairments. You must fix it manually after auto-tagging.

Finalize Assessment Checklists

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Other guides