This guide aims to ensure PDF/UA compliance in your PDF files. It will cover essential workarounds and key concepts to achieve PDF/UA status in all your documents. To be clear, there is some overlap with posts found on How do I make my PDF Accessible section of this website. This is also different from Section 508 compliance for PDFs.
PDF/UA, or PDF Universal Accessibility, ensures that people with disabilities can access PDF content. It sets rules and recommendations for creating accessible PDFs that assistive technologies like screen readers, magnifiers, and read-aloud tools can read and understand. ‘UA’ in PDF/UA stands for ‘Universal Accessibility’.
First things first. Download the PAC 2024 Checker
You can start by checking your file. Although it’s not mandatory, this often provides a good starting point.
What is PDF / UA Compliance?
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published PDF/UA as ISO 14289. This standard, based on the PDF Reference’s accessibility features, aims to provide guidelines for creating universally accessible PDF documents and forms.
The main focus areas of PDF/UA compliance include:
- Tagging and Reading Order: The PDF must be correctly tagged, meaning that every element (paragraph, heading, table, list, etc.) is correctly identified, and the reading order should be logical and intuitive.
- Hyperlinks: Make sure hyperlinks are formatted properly!
- Images and Figures: Additionally, all non-text content, such as images, must have alternate text descriptions (Alt text). These descriptions, while brief, should provide enough detail for users who can’t see the image to understand its content and purpose in the document.
- Tables: Tables should be correctly tagged to ensure the relationship between cells and headers is preserved so that users of assistive technology can understand the information being presented.
- Form Fields: All interactive form fields should be accessible, with descriptive labels and instructions for users.
- Language: The document language should be specified, allowing assistive technology to correctly interpret and vocalize the text.
- Bookmarks: Use bookmarks in longer documents to help users navigate to specific sections.
- Color and Contrast: Avoid using color alone to convey information and ensure there is sufficient contrast between the text and the background.
- Validate Your Document: Use an accessibility checker, such as the one built into Adobe Acrobat, to check your document for accessibility issues. Ensure you fix any issues identified.
- Get Expert Help: If you’re unsure about any part of the process, consult with an expert in PDF accessibility.
How to Achieve PDF/UA Compliance:
- Use the Right Tools: Begin with software that supports accessible PDF creation. Adobe Acrobat Pro, Microsoft Word, and Adobe InDesign have features that support PDF/UA creation.
- Structure Your Document: Use headings, lists, and other structure elements consistently and correctly.
Keep in mind, achieving PDF/UA compliance is a continuous and ongoing task that demands persistent attention. Consequently, every time you update a PDF document, it’s crucial to check it again for compliance with the PDF/UA standard. Although this process may be time-consuming, ultimately, it leads to a document that is more accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
PDF / UA Errors
This section will cover a myriad of accessibility errors that can occur from within the PDF Pac 2024 Checker under the PDF UA criteria. There will be some overlap with WCAG 2.1 standards.
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