PDFs
Converting a Portable Document Format (PDF) into an accessible version that complies with WCAG 2.0 is not a one-click task. It is demanding, expensive, and requires a lot of knowledge and expertise. As a result, CMOA recommends that these documents should not be the primary method for providing content to the public.
Delivering Content in Multiple Formats
All primary content sources must be accessible using assistive technology. However, delivering content in multiple formats, e.g., a web registration form that includes a link to a supplemental PDF form is acceptable, provided the inaccessible versions are labeled clearly. Any PDF that is hosted publicly on websites, or emailed to visitors and customers, must be identified as not screen reader accessible. The only exceptions to these guidelines are PDF documents that pass the accessibility criteria as defined by the WC3 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
The Benefits of Accessible PDFs
Accessible PDFs allow users of assistive technology to comprehend and navigate the content. Without this functionality, assistive technology may interpret the document in the wrong order, without images, or in a format that is difficult for the user to comprehend.
Accessible PDFs present content the way the author intended. Here is a checklist of some requirements for making Accessible PDFs:
Define the default language
Tag the document with the proper XML structure and check the tab order, so it follows the correct reading order
Include a Table of Contents and Bookmarks, so the user has access to the essential content
Provide descriptive text for all images and graphics to ensure all users understand the information
Check that color, contrast, embedded fonts, and text size meet accessibility requirements, so readers with low vision, color blindness, or dyslexia can see all content
Make forms fields electronically fillable using assistive technologies; this allows all users to complete the form independently
Related
PDF Techniques for WCAG 2.0, from the W3C.
Creating Accessible Documents, from Washington University.
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