In today’s digital landscape, accessibility is an essential aspect of creating and sharing content. For individuals with disabilities, ensuring that electronic documents, including PDFs, are accessible is crucial for equal access to information and services. Fortunately, there are several accessibility tools available that can help in making PDFs compliant with accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC: As a widely used PDF editor, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC offers a built-in accessibility checker that can identify potential issues in PDF documents. It provides guidance on how to fix these problems and ensures that the free PDF tools meets accessibility standards.
- CommonLook PDF: CommonLook PDF is a specialized tool designed explicitly for creating accessible PDF documents. It allows users to remediate existing PDFs and verify compliance with accessibility regulations.
- Microsoft Word Accessibility Checker: Before converting a Word document to PDF, using the built-in Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word can help identify and resolve accessibility issues. This ensures that the original document is accessible before the PDF conversion.
- PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker): PAC is a free open-source tool that assesses the accessibility of PDF files based on WCAG 2.0 and PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility) standards. It highlights areas that require attention and offers suggestions for improvement.
- axe PDF Accessibility Checker: Developed by Deque Systems, axe PDF Accessibility Checker is a browser extension that allows users to test PDFs for accessibility compliance directly within the browser.
- PDF Accessibility Checker (PAC 3): A successor to PAC, PAC 3 is a more advanced tool that checks PDF files against the latest PDF/UA standard and provides detailed feedback on accessibility issues.
- JAWS (Job Access With Speech): JAWS is a popular screen reader that can help developers and content creators understand how users with visual impairments will interact with their PDFs.
By utilizing these accessibility tools, content creators can ensure that their PDFs are inclusive and accessible to all users, regardless of their abilities. Taking the extra step to make PDFs compliant with accessibility standards not only meets legal requirements in many jurisdictions but also reflects a commitment to equal access and inclusivity for all.