Validating PDF Accessibility in Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Michele Bromley
- Alex Patterson
- bromley2-high
If you haven't already checked out our Digital Accessibility Training content, please do so when you have the chance! These resources will provide some context for the accessibility validation checkpoints below.
What is Adobe Acrobat Pro?
Adobe Acrobat Pro is the professional, full version of Acrobat, designed to create, edit, manipulate, and print files in the Portable Document Format (PDF).
Please note that Adobe Acrobat Pro is typically required in order to generate fully accessible PDFs. Departments may purchase Adobe Acrobat Pro by submitting a software installation request.
How do I use Adobe Acrobat Pro for Validation?
When you create an accessible document, form, or presentation with an authoring tool that allows for accessible design, validation in Adobe Acrobat Pro can be quick and easy. When you inherit a PDF, and the original resource is unavailable, remediation may take some time and effort.
Please refer to Remediating Inaccessible Documents and Forms for more information.
Checkpoints for Standard PDFs
Review Properties
Ensure both a descriptive title and correct document language.
Review Reading Order
Ensure logical reading order for all content.
Review Alternative Text
Ensure appropriate alternative text for all non-decorative images.
Review Tag Structure
Ensure accurate tag structure for accurate headings, lists, links, tables, and table headers.
Additional Checkpoints for PDF Forms
Validate Field Labels
Include unique, descriptive tooltips that duplicate field names exactly.
This applies to any unique text fields, checkboxes, etc.
The group name and tooltip for a series of radio buttons should reflect relevant information from the associated question. The unique choice for each radio button must be specified via Options.
Specify Required Fields
Review Tab Order
Ensure logical tab order for each fillable form field.
Validate the position of each new field in the Tags pane.
Please refer to Form Accessibility for more information.
Can I Collect Digital Signatures with PDF Forms?
You may use an accessible, fillable PDF by itself for information-gathering situations, in which a legal signature is not required. For purposes of validation and security, you should distribute externally-facing PDF forms that require a legal signature via a valid e-signature program like Adobe Sign.
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