Make PDFs Accessible (WCAG/PDF-UA)

Why this workflow?

Step-by-step workflow

1. 1
   Upload your PDF

   PDF Accessibility Checker

   Upload the PDF document you need to make accessible — reports, forms, publications, or any public-facing document.

2. 2
   Run accessibility check

   PDF Accessibility Fix

   The checker scans every page against WCAG 2.1 Level AA and PDF/UA criteria, producing a detailed report of issues by severity.

3. 3
   Auto-fix issues

   Run the Accessibility Fix tool to automatically add structure tags, generate alt text for images, correct reading order, and set document language.

4. 4
   Verify remediation

   Re-run the accessibility checker on the fixed document to confirm all critical and major issues have been resolved.

5. 5
   Download compliant PDF

   Download the accessible PDF ready for publication. The document now works with screen readers and meets compliance standards.

常见文档挑战

• Manually checking dozens of accessibility criteria across every page of a document
• Missing alt text on images, charts, and diagrams — the most common accessibility failure
• Incorrect reading order making documents unusable for screen reader users
• Missing document structure tags (headings, lists, tables) required by PDF/UA
• Paying expensive consultants for accessibility remediation that could be automated

Tools used in this workflow

常见问题

What accessibility standards does the checker test against?

The checker tests against WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria and PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1) requirements. This covers document structure tags, alt text, reading order, color contrast, language specification, and form field labels.

Can the auto-fix tool handle all accessibility issues?

The auto-fix tool resolves the most common issues: adding structure tags (headings, lists, tables), generating alt text for simple images, setting document language, and fixing reading order. Complex issues like meaningful alt text for data-heavy charts or complex table structures may require manual review.

Is this sufficient for Section 508 compliance?

This workflow addresses the technical requirements of Section 508 (which references WCAG 2.0 Level AA). However, full compliance also involves organizational policies and testing with assistive technology users. Use this as the technical foundation and supplement with manual review for critical publications.

How long does the accessibility check take?

Most documents are checked in under 30 seconds. Very large documents (100+ pages with many images) may take 1-2 minutes. The auto-fix step takes approximately the same amount of time.