PDF Accessibility — How to Check and Improve PDF Access
Overview
Accessible PDFs ensure your documents can be read by screen readers and assistive technologies — a legal requirement under WCAG 2.1 for public-sector organizations and increasingly enforced in corporate environments. The core requirements are: tagged content, reading order, alt text for images, and proper heading structure. PDF Mavericks helps you convert source documents cleanly — building in accessibility from the start is far easier than retrofitting it.
How to Use This Tool
Start with a well-structured source document: use proper heading styles in Word, add alt text to images, and ensure reading order follows visual layout. Convert to PDF using the Convert tool. To check accessibility after creation, use Adobe Acrobat's built-in Accessibility Checker (free in Reader) or the free PAC 2024 tool from the PDF Association.
Ready to get started? It's free, no registration required, and your files never leave your device.
Convert PDF →Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a PDF accessible?
An accessible PDF has tagged content (semantic structure for screen readers), logical reading order, alternative text for all images, proper heading hierarchy, and sufficient color contrast.
How do I check if my PDF is accessible?
Use Adobe Acrobat Reader's built-in accessibility check (Tools → Accessibility → Full Check) or the free PAC 2024 tool (pdfua.foundation) for detailed WCAG and PDF/UA compliance reports.
Can I make an existing PDF accessible?
Yes, but it's complex. Use Adobe Acrobat Pro to add tags, fix reading order, and insert alt text. For simple documents, recreating from a properly structured Word source is often faster.