PDF Accessibility Best Practices

Does it really need to be a PDF?

Short answer, probably not.

Consider if a PDF is really the best way to share the information. Would a different format be easier to make accessible and work better for the content?

Before you create a PDF, here are a few considerations:

If your PDF is a form

If your PDF is a form consider using a Microsoft or Qualtrics form instead. This allows for streamlined data collection, autofill access and better version control. A web form is also easier to create and much more accessible than a PDF.

If your PDF is informational

If your PDF is informational, consider sharing the content on a web page.

It’s much easier to maintain and update web pages and HTML is generally more accessible than PDFs.

Your audience is also more likely to read a web page than to download and read a PDF, especially on mobile.

If you still think your document needs to be a PDF

Start with an accessible source document

Whether you start in Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint or InDesign, we recommend making your source document as accessible as possible before converting to PDF.

Review Harvard's Creating Accessible Documents guidance to ensure you're following best practices for your document type.

Keep accessibility settings when you convert the document

When converting to PDF, use settings that retain tags and accessibility formatting. Avoid "Print to PDF" settings as they will remove your tags and accessibility formatting.