UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — PDFs — Portable Document Files — are one of the most challenging file types to make accessible because they are designed for printing. However, Penn State offers a variety of resources to help you manage and improve your PDF content.
When creating new PDFs, the Penn State Accessibility team recommends first developing accessible documents and then saving them as tagged PDFs or exporting other accessible formats, such as HTML or EPUB. Another option is to embed the content as a web page in Canvas, Sites at Penn State, Drupal or other online platforms.
Training is available for using PDFs with some programs, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and Adobe InDesign.
To remediate existing PDFs, the following tools are available:
- Adobe Acrobat — Free to instructors and staff, this tool allows users to audit PDFs for accessibility, change tags and create accessible PDF forms. The license can be activated at adobe.psu.edu.
- Penn State University Libraries’ automated PDF Remediation Tool — Streamlines tagging and adding image alt text for simple PDFs. Contact your Accessibility Web Liaison to learn how your area can gain access.
- Equidox — Fixes individual files, including scanned documents, infographics and other complex PDFs. It supports exports in multiple formats, including tagged PDFs, HTML and EPUB. The Equidox service site includes login information and video demonstrations.
Training for remediating PDFs is available from IT Accessibility, LinkedIn Learning and WebAIM. See the PDF Training List for details.
If you have a question about a specific PDF file or other accessibility resources, contact the Penn State Accessibility team at accessibility@psu.edu.