Content written and managed by the AED COP | Last Updated: July 2021
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2. Next select the Advanced Settings button. Once the new window opens, change the
Compatibility combo box selection to Acrobat 8.0-1.7. This setting will ensure that the
latest accessibility features are applied to the newly created PDF.
3. Now select OK to save conversion settings. Once the settings have been saved, they will
remain set unless changed by the user.
4. Lastly, select Adobe PDF > Convert to PDF from the Office applications menu to
create a tagged PDF. When prompted, name the file, and save it. Once the conversion
process is completed, Adobe DC will launch and display the newly created PDF file.
If the Office document was created using Formatting and Style elements, located on the Office
toolbar, a well-tagged document will be generated. In most cases, PDF files created using this
method are 90% accessible. To verify that the PDF is accessible, use Adobe’s Content Pane,
Tags Pane, Order Pane and Accessibility Full Checker tools to test the PDF. Instructions on
how to use these tools are found in the section titled Testing PDFs for Accessibility.
Testing PDFs for Accessibility
Before a PDF can be considered accessible, many factors must be considered. It must contain
actual content, be properly tagged, have a logical reading and tab order, and alternative text must
be added to all images and objects. Additionally, the Properties of the document must contain a
descriptive file name, a specified language and Content Copying for Accessibility should be set
to Allowed.
Before utilizing Acrobat’s accessibility check tools, the PDF must be visually verified to identify
issues that cannot be detected by the automated testing tool. For example, visually ensuring
proper Heading level structures were used, or verifying that descriptive alternative text was
applied to images and objects.
Please Note: In order to perform the visual checks in Adobe Acrobat you must be able to view
the screen and use a mouse. Additionally, if the PDF contains attachments or is a portfolio, each
individual document must be evaluated for accessibility using the correct testing methodology.
For guidance on how to test MS Office documents, visit https://www.section508.gov/.
Document Properties
The PDF’s document properties should contain a few key pieces of information such as a
descriptive title, tags, allow copying content for accessibility, and have a specified language.
To view the document properties,
1. First open the PDF and select File > Properties > Description.
In the Title field, verify that a descriptive title appears. Next navigate to the Initial View
tab and from the Show dropdown box verify that Document Title is selected. If the
Title field is missing a descriptive title and Document Title is not selected, the PDF is
considered not accessible. A descriptive title will need to be added and the Show field