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PDF Documents

PDFs are the mostchallengingfile formats foraccessibility. Below is guidance on how to create,remediateand select alternative formatsthat are more accessible than a PDF.

Creating an Accessible PDF

PDFsarechallenging to remediate foraccessibility;henceit is particularly important to incorporate accessibility principles into the process of creating a document. If youcreate an accessible documentin MicrosoftWordand export the content to a PDF document, theaccessibilityfeatures should carry forward to in the PDF.

  • in Microsoft Office tools

Remediating a PDF

Remediating is the process of“tagging” digital elements ofPDFdocuments so that they can be read using assistive technology.These“Tags”identify the elements and inform the assistive technology about the order in which they are meant to be readlike Headings and Column order. If you have a PDF that you did not create, but want to share with others, it will likely need to beremediatedto make sure it is accessible.

AccessibilityResourcescan provide faculty and staff access toEquidox,a PDFremediationsoftware. Contact the Digital and Communication Access Services team at DigitalAccess@uc.edu for more information on how to access this tool.

If you have Adobe Acrobat ProDC, you can use tools like the Accessibility Check to . Acrobat Pro providestools that identifies and provides guidance on how to make your PDF accessible.

Selecting Alternative Formats

Whenever possible PDF content should be developed into web content or placed natively into alearning management/content management systemssuch as Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)or Canvas.There are numerous benefits to creating content natively into web formats such as:
  • LivingContent: When a PDF is uploaded to the internet it is permanent. Once downloaded by a client or user it cannot be recalled or altered in any way. If the content changes in anyway, it must be removed from the websiteand replacedwith an updated version,which must also be remediated for accessibility. Native web content is living and can be altered or changed at any time by the content creator without worrying about uploading content or having misinformation circulating.
  • MobileResponsiveness:Many people use their phones to view web content andPDF documents cannot respond to mobile environments.Native web content living insideCanvasora÷ websiteresponds well tomobile platforms, can be effectively zoomed, and the user can increase contrast or alter the text to make it more readable on any platform.
  • Ease of Accessibility: While PDFs are difficult to make accessible, content generated within÷websites and Canvasare difficultto make inaccessible. Tools are availablethe text editorthat helpauser makethecontentaccessible before it is published. For example, tables created in PDF formatare challengingbe made accessible, while tablescreated in AEMwill always be accessible, without additional effort or consideration from the content creator.
  • Forms:Forms in PDF are notoriously difficult to be made accessible. There area number ofaccessible form solutions available to content creators at ÷ for use on the webthat require little extraaccessibilityconsideration from the content creator.