Accessibility
PDF Accessibility
Last modified 10/14/2026
Accessible PDFs help ensure that everyone can access and use the information they contain, regardless of ability. By designing PDFs with accessibility in mind, you make content easier to navigate, read, and understand for people who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, magnification software, and other assistive technologies.
Creating accessible PDFs supports equal access to information, promotes inclusion, and improves the overall user experience for all readers. Accessible documents can benefit individuals with visual, hearing, cognitive, learning, or mobility disabilities, while also making content more usable for a broader audience. Accessible PDFs are also essential for meeting accessibility standards and compliance requirements.
Quick PDF Accessibility Checklist
Start with an accessible source document.
Build accessibility into Word, PowerPoint, or other source files before exporting to PDF.
Add a meaningful document title
Ensure the PDF title accurately reflects the document's purpose.
Verify the PDF is tagged
Tags provide the structure needed by screen readers and other assistive technologies.
Use headings correctly
Organize content with a logical heading hierarchy.
Provide alternative text for images
Add alt text for informative images and mark decorative images as decorative.
Check the reading order
Content should be presented in a logical sequence when read by assistive technology.
Use descriptive link text
Links should clearly communicate their destination or purpose.
Ensure tables are properly structured
Use table headers and avoid using tables solely for visual layout.
Check color contrast
Text should have sufficient contrast against its background.
Make sure text is searchable and selectable
Run OCR on scanned documents so the text is accessible.
Specify the document language
Set the primary language to help screen readers pronounce content correctly.
Run an accessibility checker
Use an accessibility checker and perform a manual review when possible.
ISU Resources for PDF Accessibility
Adobe Acrobat Pro and Foxit PDF Editor are available to help you evaluate PDF accessibility, identify barriers for assistive technology users, and make corrections to improve compliance with accessibility standards.
Adobe Acrobat Pro
Adobe Acrobat Pro is a professional PDF editing and document management application that allows users to create, edit, review, convert, organize, and share PDF documents. It is widely used for document remediation, accessibility testing, electronic forms, and collaboration. Unlike Adobe Reader which does not offer tools to fix PDFs for accessibility, Adobe Acrobat Pro has a comprehensive set of accessibility tools.
PDF Accessibility with Adobe Acrobat Pro
Request Access to Adobe Acrobat Pro
Foxit PDF Editor
Foxit PDF Editor provides tools to create, evaluate, and remediate PDF documents, helping authors improve accessibility and support compliance with accessibility standards.
Request Access to Foxit PDF Editor
Get More Help
If you have questions about document accessibility, submit an Accessibility Help Ticket.
Feedback
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