Module 1 Book: Formatting Course Content so it's Accessible: PDFs

PDFs

There are several ways to ensure your PDF file is accessible depending on whether it was created by converting an existing file, scanning a document, or created directly in Adobe Acrobat.

How to Make Accessible

Use the arrows to navigate between slides. We recommend expanding to full-screen view for better visibility.

How to Check Accessibility

Running the Accessibility Checker

Adobe Acrobat Pro has a built-in accessibility checker. To check your document for accessibility, select Tools and then Accessibility. A new accessibility toolbar will be displayed with the following options:

The accessibility toolbar in Adobe Acrobat Pro. The Accessibility Check is located fourth from the top.

Adobe Acrobat Pro Accessibility Toolbar

Next, select “Accessibility Check” and follow these steps:

Check “Create accessibility report.”
From the “Category” drop-down menu, select “Document”
Select all checkbox options.
Select “Start Checking.”
The Accessibility Report Checker will appear in the left pane.

Further instructions for checking for accessibility depending on your version of Adobe can be found here:

Confirm Your Document Reading Order

Adobe includes a “read out loud” function that allows you to listen to your document as readers using a screen reader would experience. To access this, select “View,” then “Read out loud,” and finally “activate read out loud.”