GrackleDocs works in the world of digital accessibility, and we talk a lot about PDF remediation. But what does it really mean?
What is PDF remediation?
PDF remediation is the process of ensuring that PDF documents are accessible to people with disabilities, particularly those who use assistive technologies to access digital content. PDF remediation involves reviewing the PDF document to identify accessibility issues and making the necessary changes to improve its accessibility.
Some common accessibility issues that require remediation in PDFs include:
- Lack of alternative text for images: Images in a PDF document need alternative tekstbeskrivelser that provide a text-based description of the visual content, so that people who use Skærmlæsere can understand what the image conveys.
- Improper reading order: PDF documents should be structured in a logical reading order, so that people who use assistive technologies can understand the content in the correct sequence.
- Inaccessible forms: Forms in PDF documents should be designed to be accessible to assistive technologies, so that people who use assistive technologies can fill them out.
- Inaccessible tables: Tables in PDF documents should be designed to be accessible to assistive technologies, so that people who use assistive technologies can understand their content.
PDF remediation can be done using various tools and techniques, including manual remediation, automated tools, and third-party services. The goal of PDF remediation is to ensure that the PDF document is accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities, so that they can fully access and understand the content of the document.
Get a free, no obligation consultation on PDF remediation from the world’s leading PDF accessibility service by filling out the form here.
What does it mean to remediate a document?
To remediate a document means to improve its accessibility and usability for people with disabilities. Remediation involves identifying and fixing accessibility barriers in the document, so that people with disabilities can access and use the content of the document.
Remediation can involve various techniques and tools, depending on the type of document and the accessibility barriers that need to be addressed. For example, to remediate a PDF document, you might need to add alternative text descriptions for images, restructure the reading order, and ensure that tables and forms are accessible to assistive technologies.
The process of remediation typically involves the following steps:
- Evaluation: Review the document to identify accessibility barriers and determine which remediation techniques are needed.
- Planning: Develop a remediation plan that outlines the techniques and tools that will be used to address the accessibility barriers.
- Remediation: Use the planned techniques and tools to remediate the document and ensure that it is accessible to people with disabilities.
- Testing: Test the remediated document to ensure that it is fully accessible and usable by people with disabilities.
- Verification: Verify the accessibility of the remediated document using testing tools, like AbleDocs’ ADScan, and assistive technologies.
By remediating a document, businesses and organizations can ensure that their content is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. This promotes inclusion, diversity, and equity, and ensures that no one is excluded from accessing important information and services.
Get a free, no obligation consultation on PDF remediation from the world’s leading PDF accessibility service by filling out the form here.
How do I fix PDF accessibility issues?
Here are some steps to fix PDF accessibility issues:
- Identify the accessibility issues: The first step in fixing PDF accessibility issues is to identify the specific accessibility barriers that need to be addressed. This can be done by using accessibility evaluation tools, such as Adobe Acrobat’s Accessibility Checker or third-party accessibility testing tools.
- Address images and graphics: Ensure that all images and graphics in the PDF have alternative text descriptions that accurately describe the content of the image for people who use screen readers.
- Address reading order: Ensure that the reading order of the PDF content is logical and follows a meaningful sequence. This can be done by using the reading order tool in Adobe Acrobat.
- Address tables: Ensure that tables in the PDF are properly tagged and have appropriate header cells, so that people who use assistive technologies can understand the content of the table.
- Address forms: Ensure that all form fields in the PDF are properly tagged and have appropriate labels and instructions, so that people who use assistive technologies can fill out the form.
- Use clear and readable fonts: Use fonts that are easy to read and understand, and avoid using fancy fonts or fonts that are difficult to read.
- Add bookmarks and links: Add bookmarks and links to the PDF document to help users navigate the document more easily.
- Test the PDF: Test the PDF using assistive technologies, such as screen readers and speech recognition software, to ensure that the accessibility issues have been addressed and the document is fully accessible.
Get a free, no obligation consultation on PDF remediation from the world’s leading PDF accessibility service by filling out the form here.
How can I improve my PDF accessibility?
Let’s look at some of those common elements of remediation fixes in a PDF and why they’re essential.
Overskrifter
Som navigationsværktøjer hjælper overskrifter (H1, H2, H3 osv.) med at organisere dokumenter og informere læserne om, hvad de indeholder.
Overskrifter hjælper med at gøre indholdet mere forståeligt for personer med hjælpemidler ved at opdele det i letfordøjelige afsnit og skabe navigationsmæssige pejlemærker i dokumentet. Desuden kan personer, der bruger hjælpemidler, vælge kun at læse overskrifterne i et dokument, så de ved, hvad dokumentet indeholder.
En PDF uden overskrifter ville få en hjælpemiddelbruger til at læse hver eneste linje i dokumentet for at finde det, han eller hun leder efter.
Links
When creating a PDF, you might have added links for your users to learn more about a specific topic. These links need to be tagged as links when you’re remediating.
Hvis du ikke angiver, hvor et link fører hen, er slutbrugerne måske ikke klar over, at de forlader dit dokument, eller hvor de ender.
Lister
Lister skal tagges på en bestemt måde for at undgå, at hvert element ser ud til at være en masse uafhængige ord uden nogen sammenhæng.
Når en liste er tagget korrekt, vil den informere slutbrugerens hjælpemiddel om antallet af elementer på listen, og hvor de befinder sig på listen.
Borde
Generelt kan tabeller være udfordrende at forstå med hjælpemidler. Der skal henvises til hver celle med dens række og kolonne, men der kan være behov for yderligere oplysninger for at forstå dataene korrekt. Ting som kolonne- og rækkeoverskrifter skal identificeres for at gøre det lettere at navigere i dataenes rækkefølge.
Billeder
For assistive technology to read images, they require alternative (alt text) text.
Den alternative tekst formidler et billedes "hvorfor" i forhold til indholdet i et dokument. Det er i bund og grund billedet, der beskrives med ord, som læses højt af hjælpemidler som skærmlæsere og indekseres af søgemaskiner.
An image missing alt text within a PDF is read as an image or graphic, but no additional context or information will be provided.
Now, if the image is simply decorative, it doesn’t require alt text, but rather it needs to be artifacted within the document’s tags. These items can include, but are not limited to:
- Baggrundsbilleder
- Kasser
- Gentagne logoer
- Designelementer som linjer, cirkler og firkanter
Læserækkefølge
When it comes to reading order, it is what it’s called – you’re providing the order for the elements within the document to be read. When your PDF lacks an identified reading order, assistive devices will not understand how to properly navigate down the page, leading to a messy and inconsistent end-user experience.
Even if your document has a reading order, it’s essential to check that it reads the same way you want it to as the content creator.
Ready to remediate your documents? Get a free, no obligation consultation on PDF remediation from the world’s leading PDF accessibility service by filling out the form here.
