5 PDF Accessibility Pro Tips | Adobe Acrobat

Today’s post shares five powerful strategies that improve the efficiency and accuracy of PDF remediation using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. These expert tips help save time and produce better results, whether you’re a seasoned accessibility specialist or just starting out.

Video Guide

Rename Tags Quickly Using the F2 Key

Renaming tags quickly improves tagging speed and document structure. Instead of navigating through menus, press the F2 key to rename any tag directly in the tags panel.

To rename a tag:

• Navigate to the tag using the arrow keys.
• Press F2 to make the tag name editable.
• Type the new tag name (e.g., change <P> to <H2>) and press Enter.

This method simplifies heading restructuring and speeds up the process significantly.

Add Alternate Text to All Links Automatically

Adding alt text to links enhances navigation for screen reader users. Use the Preflight tool under the Print Production panel to apply tooltips across the entire document in a few steps:

1. Open Print Production > Preflight.
2. Select the desired profile (e.g., Acrobat Pro DC 2015).
3. Click the wrench icon for fix-up options.
4. Search “annotation” and choose “Create content entry for Link annotations.”
5. Click Fix and save the document.

To customize a link’s alt text, right-click the link, go to Properties, and edit the Alternate Description field.

Fix Acronyms for Accurate Screen Reader Output

Screen readers often mispronounce acronyms. Edit the Actual Text field in tag properties to clarify pronunciation.

To do this:

• Locate the tag containing the acronym (e.g., “Montana, USA”).
• Right-click and select Properties.
• Enter the full phrase, such as “Montana, United States of America,” in the Actual Text field.

This change improves the clarity of speech output for users relying on assistive technology.

Control Tag Placement Precisely

Placing tags in the correct location helps maintain a clean and logical document structure. To place a new tag directly beneath a specific element:

• Right-click the tag where the new element should appear.
• Select New Tag and choose the desired tag type (e.g., <Article>, <L>).

This technique works especially well when nesting list items or figures, giving precise control over tag order.

Don’t Fear Split Tags

Split content across multiple tags often raises concerns about screen reader performance. In practice, screen readers like JAWS handle this smoothly.

Even when content appears split in the tag tree (e.g., figures or paragraph continuations), screen readers read the information in the intended order. This insight reduces unnecessary tag reordering and builds confidence in document structure integrity.

By incorporating these methods, document accessibility professionals can streamline their workflows, reduce manual effort, and ensure more reliable screen reader compatibility.

Let me be your champion for inclusion. I offer tailored solutions (and self-paced courses!) to ensure your documents meet and exceed compliance expectations. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!