PDFs are among the most commonly used file types in courses, and among the most common sources of accessibility issues. Whether you’re sharing syllabi, readings, or handouts, it’s essential that your PDFs are structured so all students can access and navigate them effectively. As Austin Community College (ACC) approaches the April 24 digital accessibility compliance deadline, now is the time to review and remediate your PDF content.

In this installment, we’re focusing on how to check and improve PDF accessibility using Adobe Acrobat.

Why PDF Accessibility Matters

An inaccessible PDF can create significant barriers for students who use screen readers or other assistive technologies. Common issues include:

• Missing document structure (no headings or tags)
• Images without alternative text
• Poor reading order
• Scanned documents that are not text-readable

Making PDFs accessible ensures your content is usable, navigable, and compliant with accessibility standards.

Featured Tool: Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat includes built-in tools to help you check and fix accessibility issues in your PDFs. These tools provide a clear starting point for identifying problems and offer guided steps for remediation. ACC is the first community college in the nation designated an Adobe Creative Campus. Adobe Creative Cloud is available to ACC faculty, staff, and students at no cost or minimal cost. This suite of products gives you unlimited access to industry-leading creation tools for graphic design, video editing, and web development, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Premiere Pro, Express and more. 

How to Check a PDF for Accessibility

Using Adobe Acrobat, you can run an accessibility check in just a few steps:

1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat
   Use the full version of Acrobat (not just a browser preview) to access accessibility tools.
2. Run the Accessibility Check

• Select “All tools”
• Choose “Prepare for accessibility”
• Click “Check for accessibility”

3. Review the Accessibility Report
   Acrobat will generate a report outlining issues such as:

• Missing tags
• Images without alt text
• Color contrast concerns
• Reading order problems

4. Fix Identified Issues
   Use the guided tools in Acrobat to:

• Add or edit tags (headings, lists, tables)
• Insert alternative text for images
• Adjust reading order
• Ensure text is selectable (not just an image)

Tips for Creating Accessible PDFs from the Start

The best way to improve PDF accessibility is to start before you export:

• Use built-in heading styles in Word or Google Docs
• Add alt text to images before converting to PDF
• Avoid scanned documents when possible
• Export as a tagged PDF to preserve structure

Starting with an accessible source document can significantly reduce the time needed for remediation.

Get Support Today!

Faculty are encouraged to take advantage of available resources to meet accessibility requirements:

• Join the upcoming Remote Recess session on Blackboard Ally: Wednesday, April 15, 2-3 p.m.
• One-on-one consultations with instructional designers provide personalized guidance on accessibility best practices, including color contrast (check the ID list here, or email [email protected] if you don’t see one listed)

These services can help you quickly identify and resolve issues ahead of the April 24 deadline.

Act Now to Meet the Deadline

With the April 24 digital accessibility compliance deadline approaching, faculty should prioritize reviewing PDFs used in their courses. Start with high-impact materials, such as syllabi and required readings, and use Adobe Acrobat to check and improve accessibility.

Stay tuned for the final installment of our Building Accessible Courses blog post series, where we’ll highlight additional tools and strategies to support accessible forms and course materials.