Content Accessibility

A LibGuide that answers "yes" to all applicable questions would be deemed acceptable for content accessibility.

PDF Content- File should open to Document title NOT file name.

• Is the document title clearly recognizable as to what it is – no spaces or special characters – file name concise approximately 20-30 characters?
• Are the pages numbered?
• If color is used as an emphasis in the text, is there an alternate method present (underline, bold, etc.)?
• Is the contrast between the foreground text and background colors are in acceptable range (4.5:1)?
• Is bullet or numbering style used instead of typed characters (hyphens, asterisks)?
• Are tracked changes turned off?
• Are comments removed?
• Have you reviewed the document in print preview to ensure that its final formatting is appropriate?
• Are all URL’s properly hyperlinked and display full URL, like University of Massachusetts Lowell (http://www.uml.edu) so that they can be accessed from the document?
• Has a separate accessible version of the document been provided when there is no other way to make the content available (example - a scanned document/book is also available on reserve in the library)?

Layout and Formatting

• Is the document free of scanned images of text?
• Are bookmarks included in PDF that exceed 9 pages long and are ordered in a logical manner (i.e. chapters, key topics, etc.)?
• Are decorative images marked as background or artifact (alt-text description)?
• If using Acrobat, was accessibility checker used to identify issues?
  • Tools > Action Wizard > Make Accessible. (This will not result in an accessible document. Reading Order and Tag tree must be manually checked.)
• Is the document free of layout tables? ( Tables can be tagged to be accessible).
• Are images and graphics clear and legible?
• If present, does the table of contents have correct page numbers and is linked properly?

Accessibility Tagging & Reading Order

• Has the PDF been created using style elements present (i.e. Header 1, Header 2, etc.)?
• Are heading styles organized hierarchically and in a logical fashion?
• Have documents with multicolumn text, tables, or boxes been checked for correct reading order?
• Have footnotes and references tagged been placed in a logical reading order?

PDF Images

• Do all images presented have an alternative text description?
• Do complex images like charts, graphs, etc. have descriptive text after it to relay information?
• Is the document free of background images or watermarks?
• If present, are multiple associated images on the same page (boxes in an organizational chart are grouped as one object)?

PDF Tables

• Have tables been created using the table structure (not free form using tabs)?
• Do tables have a logical reading order from left to right, top to bottom?
• Do all data tables have a header row? Are the header cells identified as column or row, (scope) and is the span width designated?
• Are tables free from merged cells?
• Are tables described and labeled (small data tables in a presentation might not need an explanation)?
• In table properties, is “allow row to break across pages” unchecked?

Form Fields

• Do all form fields have the correct labels and mark-ups? including
  • Do form fields have visual text next to the form tag with a tool tip?
  • Is the value attribute used on buttons?
  • Are there limited to no hidden input fields?
• Are all form fields keyboard accessible?
• Are all multiple-choice answers keyboard accessible and grouped together as form-field sets?
• For more assistance on creating forms, visit Adobe's page for creating Acrobat Pro DC Accessible Forms and Interactive Documents (http://www.adobe.com/accessibility/products/acrobat/creating-accessible-forms.html).

Need more information? Consider reviewing Brandon Drake's PowerPoint on Creating Accessible PDF Forms below.