Creating Accessible Content

Content creation has become a part of everyone’s role. Use the following resources to learn more about how to build accessible and inclusive digital content.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1

This page provides a paraphrased summary of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. For the normative technical specification, see Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1.

Adobe products for accessible PDFs

Ensuring PDFs are accessible to students who use assistive technologies is essential to creating equitable educational access. Accessibility within PDFs relies on appropriate naming/labeling of the document, logical tagging structure and font selection, and the application of alternative text to graphic images.

Although you may not be the original author of the PDF, knowing the techniques to increase a document’s accessibility allows you to improve student access and engagement with your classroom materials. Access the linked PDF Accessibility Checklist for more on these techniques.

Techniques for improving PDF accessibility  

It is important to check the document properties for baseline accessibility information such as document label, tagged structures, language preferences, and content copying for accessibility. To do this, do the following:

• Open the PDF and locate the “File” tab in the ribbon menu. Select “Properties” and then “Description.”
• From the “Title” field you can adjust the title of your document to be more descriptive.
• From the “Initial View” tab, verify that “Document Title” is clearly described.
• From the “Description” window, make sure that the “Tagged PDF” is set to “Yes.” This allows for the PDF structure to be tagged for a specific reading order.
• In “Properties,” the “Security” tab will allow you to enable the “Content Copying for Accessibility” feature for screen reader accessibility.

Document and media accessibility

Content from WebAIM (Web Accessibility in Mind). Copyright © 1999-2021 All rights reserved.  

Web AIM has provided a comprehensive list of articles focused on building documents and media for the web. Use the quick links below to access specific areas of accessibility for Microsoft Office, PDFs, HTMLs, and website design.

Checklists for accessible content

Content courtesy of Joseph Krack, California Department of Social Services

To ensure your content is accessible, please reference the document quick checklists below. These checklists provide an easy way to check accessibility for documents created in a range of programs and formats.