Guide to Checking PDF Accessibility

This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to check the accessibility of a PDF. It covers various actions like initiating the accessibility review in Adobe Acrobat, How to locate accessibility issues in a document, and the steps to fix the issues. By following this guide, users can ensure that their PDFs are accessible for all users, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in creating inclusive and accessible documents.

LaTonya Motley
37 steps
3 minutes

Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat

Click "All Tools"

Scroll Down the menu, then click "View More"

Click "Prepare for accessibility"

Next, Click "Check for accessibility"

Once the Accessibility Menu opens, change any of the options then click "Start Checking"

Once the accessibility review is complete, a list will appear on the right indicating the results of the Accessibility Checker. In this case, 6 accessibility issues were found in the document. Click "Document" to expand and view the list of issues.

Items with a red X indicate that an accessibility issue that needs to be address.

Right click "Tagged PDF - Failed"

Click "Fix". Some items will require no other actions to fix the issue.

Right click "Logical Reading Order"

Click "Pass"

Right click "Primary language"

Click "Fix"

Set Reading Language then Click "OK"

Right click "Title"

Click "Fix"

Uncheck "Leave As Is"

Type a Title for the Document

Click "OK"

Right click "Bookmarks"

Click "Fix"

Click "Select All"

Click "OK"

Right click "Color Contrast"

Click "Pass"

Click "Page Content"

Click "Character encoding"

Right click "Character encoding"

Click "Skip Rule"

Click "Alternative Text"

Right click "Figures alternative text"

Click "Fix"

Add an Alternate text to each image or select the box for Decorative figure. Then click the arrow to go to the next image.

Click "Next Image"

Click "Save & Close"

Run the Accessibility Review again after fixing the issues.

Guide to Checking PDF Accessibility

LaTonya Motley
37 steps
3 minutes

Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat

Click "All Tools"

Scroll Down the menu, then click "View More"

Click "Prepare for accessibility"

Next, Click "Check for accessibility"

Once the Accessibility Menu opens, change any of the options then click "Start Checking"

Items with a red X indicate that an accessibility issue that needs to be address.

Right click "Tagged PDF - Failed"

Click "Fix". Some items will require no other actions to fix the issue.

Right click "Logical Reading Order"

Click "Pass"

Right click "Primary language"

Click "Fix"

Set Reading Language then Click "OK"

Right click "Title"

Click "Fix"

Uncheck "Leave As Is"

Type a Title for the Document

Click "OK"

Right click "Bookmarks"

Click "Fix"

Click "Select All"

Click "OK"

Right click "Color Contrast"

Click "Pass"

Click "Page Content"

Click "Character encoding"

Right click "Character encoding"

Click "Skip Rule"

Click "Alternative Text"

Right click "Figures alternative text"

Click "Fix"

Add an Alternate text to each image or select the box for Decorative figure. Then click the arrow to go to the next image.

Click "Next Image"

Click "Save & Close"

Run the Accessibility Review again after fixing the issues.