Files people can read.
THE PROBLEM
A PDF created by scanning or exporting from a design tool is frequently an image of text.
Unreadable by screen readers, unsearchable, and awkward on a phone.
WHAT MAKES A PDF ACCESSIBLE
Real text rather than an image Proper heading structure Alt text on images A logical reading order A declared language
HOW TO PRODUCE ONE
Export from a word processor with proper heading styles applied, rather than from a design tool.
Most word processors have an accessibility checker.
THE BETTER ANSWER
Put the content on a web page instead.
A web page is more accessible, more findable, easier to update and better on a phone.
PDFs are appropriate for documents intended to be printed or to preserve exact layout.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Put your menu, price list or contact details in a PDF only.
That excludes people and it excludes search engines.
IF YOU MUST PROVIDE A PDF
Provide the same content as a web page too.
CHECKING
Try selecting text in the PDF. If you cannot, it is an image.
