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PDF Accessibility Testing

The document outlines 8 steps to make a PDF accessible: 1) Ensure correct tagging of content, 2) Verify metadata, 3) Confirm color is not solely used to convey information and there is sufficient contrast, 4) Provide alt text for images and links, 5) Structure lists correctly, 6) Structure data tables and tables of contents correctly, 7) Address any other tagging issues, and 8) Use a validator to check for any remaining issues against standards like WCAG 2.0. It notes remediating existing untagged PDFs is labor intensive and tools like CommonLook can help make the process more methodical and standards compliant. CommonLook also offers professional remediation services with a guarantee of full compliance.

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Abhishek Vijay
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
24 views

PDF Accessibility Testing

The document outlines 8 steps to make a PDF accessible: 1) Ensure correct tagging of content, 2) Verify metadata, 3) Confirm color is not solely used to convey information and there is sufficient contrast, 4) Provide alt text for images and links, 5) Structure lists correctly, 6) Structure data tables and tables of contents correctly, 7) Address any other tagging issues, and 8) Use a validator to check for any remaining issues against standards like WCAG 2.0. It notes remediating existing untagged PDFs is labor intensive and tools like CommonLook can help make the process more methodical and standards compliant. CommonLook also offers professional remediation services with a guarantee of full compliance.

Uploaded by

Abhishek Vijay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Make a PDF Accessible

8 Steps to PDF Accessibility


STEP 1: Tags.
Ensure that the document has tags, the tags are correct for the content, and that they are in a
logical order as compared to the visual layout of the PDF.

STEP 2: Metadata.
Verify and fix the Metadata.

STEP 3:Color.
Confirm that color (format, font, etc.) is not the only way that information is being conveyed and
there’s sufficient contrast between the content on the page and any background colors.

STEP 4: Alt Text.


Provide alternative text to links and images that convey important information; artifact
decorative images.

STEP 5: Lists.
Double-check that lists are correctly structured according to standards.

STEP 6: Tables.
Make sure that data tables, and Tables of Contents tags are correctly structured according to
standards.

STEP 7: Other Tagging Issues.


Address any other tagging issues that may exist.

STEP 8: PDF Checker or Validator.


Use a reliable checker that tests against recognized standards such as WCAG 2.0, HHS or
PDF/UA to make sure there aren’t any other issues with the
PDF. 
If this sounds complicated, it’s because ensuring a PDF is accessible the right way is
an involved process. The remediation of existing PDF documents that were not created for accessib
ility during the authoring process is labor intensive, and since m

What about using Adobe Acrobat for PDF


accessibility?
The accessibility and testing tools within Adobe Acrobat are incomplete; they cannot ensure that
the final result meets the required standards. Tools such as CommonLook PDF  for remediation
of existing documents and CommonLook Office for authoring accessible Microsoft Office
documents can make the process much more methodical and  the resulting files are guaranteed
100% in compliance with the standards. Proper training through CommonLook, especially for
remediation, will verify that you get maximum benefit from your investment, which is key to a
successful program.

PDF remediation services


Many organizations will have the most recent and important documents professionally
remediated due to time and resource limitations. CommonLook has been remediating PDF
documents for over 20 years. CommonLook Service comes with a 100% guarantee of
compliance and a complete accessibility report showing the work meets all checkpoints of the
standards you require, including WCAG 2.0, HHS and/or PDF/UA.

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