Having the right tools makes creating and fixing PDFs easier. Adobe Acrobat Pro has built-in accessibility features and is available to University of Iowa faculty and staff. Learn how to request a license on the ITS website.
- Use real text, not images of text: Scanned or picture-based text can’t be read by screen readers. Do not share scanned PDFs.
- Set document title and primary language: Titles help users identify the document, and language settings help screen readers pronounce words correctly.
- Provide descriptive alt text for any images: Alt text describes images for users who can’t see them. Keep alt text short and meaningful.
Provide tooltips with any form elements: Tooltips (field descriptions) tell users what to enter, such as “Enter your full name.”
Use clear fonts and readable text sizing: Choose simple, easy-to-read fonts and avoid small text.
Tag all content properly: Tags identify each part of a document (like heading, paragraph, or list) so screen readers can understand its structure.
Make sure document headings are properly nested: Follow a logical heading order (H1 → H2 → H3) so assistive technology can navigate easily.
Provide well-formed data tables with headers and labels: Add header rows or columns so screen readers can describe how data cells relate.
Review reading order for logical flow: Make sure content reads top to bottom, left to right, for accurate screen reader output.
Check color contrast: Use tools like WebAIM’s Contrast Checker to make sure that colors in your document have enough contrast (e.g., dark text on a light background).
If you would like a file to print the "10 Best Practices for Accessible PDFs," please reach out to Jalessa Hohensee, communication specialist.