Creating accessible pdfs, Workflow for creating accessible pdfs, Additional resources – Adobe Acrobat XI User Manual
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Accessibility, tags, and reflow
Last updated 1/14/2015
Creating accessible PDFs
Workflow for creating accessible PDFs
At a high level, the process of creating accessible PDFs consists of a few basic stages:
1
Consider accessibility before you convert a document to PDF.
2
As needed, add fillable form fields and descriptions, and set the tab order.
3
Add other accessibility features to the PDF.
4
Tag the PDF.
5
Evaluate the PDF and repair tagging problems.
These stages are presented in an order that suits most needs. However, you can perform tasks in a different order or
iterate between some of the stages. In all cases, first examine the document, determine its intended purpose, and use
that analysis to determine the workflow that you apply.
Additional resources
For more information about creating accessible PDFs, see these resources:
• Guide to creating accessible PDFs, General Services Administration:
• Best practices:
Consider accessibility before you convert a document to PDF
Whenever possible, think about accessibility when you create the source files in an authoring application, such as a
word-processing or page-layout application.
Typical tasks in the authoring application include adding alternate text to graphics, optimizing tables, and applying
paragraph styles or other document-structure features that can be converted to tags. For more information, see
Creating a tagged PDF from an authoring application
.
Note: If you have Acrobat Pro and intend to design PDF forms, use Adobe LiveCycle® Designer, which is dedicated to the
design of interactive and static forms. LiveCycle Designer adds structure tags to forms, improving accessibility.
Add fillable form fields and descriptions, and set the tab order
If your PDF includes form fields, use Tools > Accessibility > Run Form Field Recognition to detect form fields and make
them interactive (fillable).
Use the Forms tools to create fillable form fields, such as buttons, check boxes, pop-up menus, and text boxes. When
you create a field, type a description in the Tooltip box in the Properties dialog box for that field. Screen readers read
this text aloud to the user. For more information, see
You can also use the Touch Up Reading Order tool in Acrobat Pro to add descriptions to form fields.