The first step in making a PDF document accessible is to understand what types of issues may exist in the document.  When a PDF file is opened in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, briefly analyze the document and note its characteristics. Does the document have:

  • Scanned pages
  • Text, links, graphics or a mixture of elements
  • Headings and/or lists
  • Data tables
  • Mathematical formulas, subscripts, superscripts, or other font attributes
  • Form fields
  • Annotations such as comments, revision marks, etc.
  • Multiple columns of information
  • Complex layouts and articles that span different pages
  • Multimedia
  • Multiple languages

The greater number of document features and complex layouts, the more time it may require to make the document accessible.

Proceed to Step 2: Add Document Properties and interactive Features