Creating Accessible PDFs

PDFs that lack accessibility features can pose serious barriers for people with disabilities. To ensure your documents are usable by all, apply core accessibility principles during creation and before sharing.

Core Principles

  • Start with an accessible source file
  • Use proper structure and formatting
    • Applying heading styles to define content hierarchy.
    • Writing clear, concise alt text for informative images
    • Maintaining sufficient color contrast between text and background.
  • Avoid “Print to PDF” or scanned PDFs
    • These methods often remove document structure and tagging, making the content inaccessible to screen reader users.
  • Check you final PDF
    • Use Adobe Acrobat Pro or another trusted tool to test for accessibility before uploading or sharing your document.

Important Notes

  • Not all applications can generate accessible PDFs
    • Make sure the tools you use support tagged PDF output, which is essential for screen reader compatibility.
  • Older PDFs are often inaccessible
    • If the original source file is unavailable, consider recreating the document to meet accessibility standards.
  • Use proper conversion methods, such as:
  • Visit the Check for Accessibility page for trusted tools, helpful guides, and practical checklists to help you get started.
  • If you’re creating PDFs from design tools like Adobe InDesign, be sure to use its built-in accessibility features before exporting.

Additional Resources

Need help?

For manual accessibility testing or questions about PDF accessibility, contact the IT Accessibility Center at itaccessibility@missouri.edu.

Faculty looking for tools to assist with creating accessible course materials can visit the Missouri Online website.

Does it need to be a PDF?

Consider if the content needs to be a PDF. It is recommended to instead create a webpage that includes the necessary content rather than creating a PDF. If a PDF is necessary, refer to the tips on this page.