How to Make PDFs Accessible | Episode 11: Madera College

Welcome to episode 11 on community college PDF accessibility. Today, we focus on Madera College’s Constitutional By-laws.

Video Guide

If you’re interested in the real-life practice and nuances of document remediation, here are Episode 1, Episode 2,  Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10, Episode 12, Episode 13 Episode 14, Episode 15, Episode 16, and Episode 17 in our PDF Accessibility Community College Series.

PDF Accessibility Challenges and Solutions

Inadequate Tag Usage

The document largely consists of ‘p’ tags, indicating a lack of proper structure. This poses a challenge for screen readers which rely on a well-defined tag hierarchy to navigate content effectively. Use Adobe Acrobat’s auto tag feature to overhaul the existing tag structure. This approach improves the document’s navigability by introducing heading tags and correcting some list items.

Inaccessible Headings and Acronyms

The document’s headings and acronyms are not screen reader-friendly. Acronyms, in particular, can be confusing if not spelled out. Tag titles as heading level one (h1), two (h2), or as appropriate, and spell out acronyms for clarity. This ensures that screen readers interpret and vocalize the content accurately.

Non-descriptive Images

An image in the document lacks alt text. Always add descriptive alt text to relevant images, ensuring that it conveys the necessary information to all users, regardless of their visual abilities.

Unlinked Table of Contents

The unlinked table of contents in the document hinders navigation for users relying on assistive technologies. Methodically add hyperlinks from each item in the table of contents to its corresponding section. This process, though time-consuming, significantly enhances the document’s usability.

Complicated List Structures

Lists within the document were incorrectly formatted, with some nested lists confusing. Reorganize and properly tag lists to ensure proper nesting and readability. Screen reader users will then understand the sequence and relevance of list items.

Download the Free Section 508 Checklist for PDF Accessibility:

Inappropriate Use of Span Tags

The document contained span tags that were not suitable for the content they encompassed, potentially causing misinterpretations by screen readers. Replace or remove unnecessary span tags, placing content directly under the appropriate heading tags to maintain clarity and structure.

Missing Accessibility Elements

The PDF lacked several key accessibility elements, including embedded fonts, alternate descriptions for annotations, and the PDF/UA identifier. Use the Preflight tool to embed missing fonts, create content entries for link annotations, and set the PDF/UA entry. This step is crucial for ensuring the document meets PDF/UA and WCAG standards.

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!