How Do I Make a PDF Accessible?
Prepare semantic source structure, check the saved PDF and resolve remaining barriers. Tags, alternatives and scanner results are parts of a broader review workflow.
Making a PDF accessible requires structure and meaning that support the intended task. Prefer an editable source when available, then inspect the saved PDF rather than relying on its appearance.
Prepare and export
Use semantic headings, lists and tables. Provide appropriate figure alternatives and set title and language. Use a documented accessible export for the installed application. Text recognition may be needed for scans, but recognized text still needs accuracy and structural review.
Inspect the saved structure
Check heading hierarchy, reading sequence, table-header relationships and associations with actual page content. Handle decorative material appropriately. Confirm that equations, labels, values and figure descriptions preserve the source's meaning. Complex or ambiguous material can need rebuilding or specialist work.
Validate and test
Use a validator supporting the selected standard and record its release and profile. Complete manual checks and relevant assistive-technology tasks. PDF/UA and WCAG are related evaluation frameworks with different scopes; passing one automated profile does not establish every applicable requirement.
Keep the original and inspect the actual saved output. Combine relevant automated checks with manual review of meaning, reading order, navigation and content preservation. Test important student tasks with the intended reader and assistive technologies. A clean checker report alone does not establish conformance.
Determine applicable obligations
For US public entities, consult DOJ guidance for the 2027/2028 population cohorts, content scope and exceptions. Australian education providers have distinct DDA/DSE obligations, including consultation and reasonable adjustments, without an equivalent federal US-style compliance date.
Aelira Core is beta software. Supported workflows can apply eligible partial fixes and record outcomes, but some inputs need manual work or cannot produce a downloadable remediated file. Review the actual saved output, unresolved findings and content preservation before publication. Automated scores describe implemented checks rather than accessibility conformance. Inspect the public source and release documentation and evaluate a representative authorized sample before planning a rollout.
Aelira Team
•Accessibility EngineersThe Aelira team is building beta accessibility tools for higher education. Institutions can evaluate selected checks and partial fixes on their own files, with human review required before publication.
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