Making PDFs Accessible: A Complete Guide
Learn how to create PDFs that are accessible to people with disabilities.
Making PDFs accessible ensures that people with disabilities can read and navigate your documents using assistive technologies like screen readers. Accessible PDFs also tend to be better structured and more usable for everyone.
Why PDF Accessibility Matters
Over one billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. Many government agencies and organizations are required by law to provide accessible documents. Beyond legal requirements, accessible PDFs improve the experience for all users.
Key Accessibility Features
Document Structure Tags
Tags define the logical structure of a PDF, identifying headings, paragraphs, lists, tables, and images. Screen readers use these tags to navigate the document and present content in a meaningful order.
Alternative Text for Images
Every meaningful image should have alternative text that describes its content. Decorative images should be marked as artifacts so screen readers skip them.
Reading Order
The reading order defines the sequence in which content is read by assistive technology. This may differ from the visual layout, especially in multi-column designs.
Color and Contrast
Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background. Do not use color alone to convey information since this excludes people with color blindness.
Bookmarks and Navigation
Add bookmarks for long documents so users can quickly navigate to specific sections. This benefits all users, not just those using assistive technology.
Creating Accessible PDFs
The best approach is to create accessibility from the source. Use heading styles in Word or InDesign before converting to PDF. This automatically creates the tag structure. Add alt text to images in the source document. Run accessibility checks before publishing.
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