Overview
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to remediate PDFs for accessibility using the 4R Method. It offers practical, step-by-step instructions for identifying, organizing, and fixing accessibility issues in different types of PDFs, ensuring your materials are accessible to all students.
Use the 4R Method for PDF Remediation
- Review your files. Start by making a inventory of all your PDFs.
- Remove non-compliant items. If a PDF isn’t used anymore and isn’t required to keep by law [insert retention schedule information], delete it.
- Revise what is left. For the PDFs you keep, fix accessibility issues using our PDF remediation steps based on the type of PDF you have.
- Realign your items going forward. Proactively create documents with accessibility in mind so they don’t need major fixes later.
Let’s look at the revise component of PDF remediation.
PDF Types
The first thing to do before revising your PDF is to know what type of PDF you have. The following are the most common PDF types. Find the type that matches your PDF to access steps for remediation.
Type 1: Scanned PDF (Image-Based) [link]
- Made from a scan or image (no selectable/searchable text).
- Common from design tools that export as an image to PDFs.
- Will need OCR and significant cleanup.
Type 2: Source File Exists (Best-Case Scenario) [link]
- Made from Word, PowerPoint, or InDesign.
- If made accessible before conversion, results in the most accessible PDFs.
Type 3: Handwritten or Sketch-Based Content [link]
- Notes, diagrams, or forms written by hand and scanned.
- Most likely will need to be recreated digitally to be made accessible.
Type 4: Readable, Untagged PDF [link]
- Text is selectable but has no tags or structure.
- Common from design tools that export to PDFs with no accessibility feature incorporated.
Resources
For more, review these additional resources:
Support
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