2026-07-284 min read
PDF Accessibility: Making Documents for Everyone
Ensure your PDFs are accessible to users with disabilities. Here's what you need to know.
What Makes a PDF Accessible?
An accessible PDF is usable by people who rely on screen readers, magnifiers, or other assistive technologies. Key requirements: proper heading structure, alt text for images, logical reading order, and tagged content.
Use Structure and Headings
When creating PDFs from Word or other editors, use proper heading styles (H1, H2, H3). Screen readers use heading hierarchy to navigate documents.
Add Meaningful Metadata
Use Edit Metadata to set a clear title and subject. Screen readers announce the document title first.
Keep Content Simple
- Use sufficient color contrast between text and background.
- Avoid relying solely on color to convey information.
- Provide text alternatives for important visual content.
- Ensure font sizes are readable — avoid text below 10pt.
Check with Built-in Tools
Adobe Acrobat and some PDF readers include accessibility checkers. Run these before distributing important documents.