ADA Compliance
November 30, 2050 / Tags: PDFS, Content, Graphics, Accessibility, Disability, Images, Compliance, Headings, ADA, Writing
Ä¢¹½TV is required to be ADA compliant across all online resources. WGAG 2 guidelines are the standards that Ä¢¹½TV follows.
Please use the built in Accessibility testing feature of the OUCMS software and we strongly recommend using the WAVE testing tool.
Image Compliance
What is a good description? Use words that explain what the graphic is - if you closed your eyes and heard a screen reader tell you what the image is - would the description be understandable.
ALWAYS REMEMBER - for EVERY image/graphic/photo - you MUST add a DESCRIPTION.
Note: Graphics that are decorative elements on a page that does not impact the content of information being presented does not require a description according to WCAG 2 standards. However - we encourage you to use a description in this situation that includes "decorative graphic" so this is clear to a user and within ADA guidelines.
Content Compliance
File Compliance
Troubleshooting Specific ADA Issues for PDF
For other PDF issues not listed, please contact us using the .
Recommended Video Playlist for Adobe Acrobat Pro DC issues:
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How do I start checking PDFs for accessibility errors?
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How do I check Word DOCs for accessibility errors?
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Document > Title
Toggle More InfoRight click, Fix and fill out an appropriate title for the pdf. A pop-up may not appear, make sure there is a green check mark to indiciate that the issue has been fixed.
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Text/Background Contrast
Toggle More InfoText color will be tested against background color. Images are generally not calculated, but instead the background color behind the image.
Here's a list of approved background colors with labels of correct and incorrect type-color usage.Blue Background Color: #004785
Black: #000
White: #FFF
Blue: #004785
Blue 1: #337ab7
Blue 2: #0f5eb8
Blue 3: #0051b2
Blue 4: #135bae
Blue 5: #003f75
Blue 6: #4a90e2
Blue 7: #0f8fff
Blue 8: #498fe208
Blue 9: #004588
Blue Gray: #283C50
Green: #71a000
Green 2: #99cccc
Green 3: #79ab00
Green 4: #5B8200
Green 5: #679100
Green 6: #aaf003
Teal: #99cccc
Red: #D93B3B
Red: #d0011b
Gray: #4d4d4d
Gray 2: #c0c0c0
Gray 3: #f3f3f3
Light Gray: #e3e5e6
Light Gray 2: #eaeaea
Dark Gray: #1C1A1D
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Gray2 Background Color: #c0c0c0
Black: #000
White: #FFF
Blue: #004785
Blue 1: #337ab7
Blue 2: #0f5eb8
Blue 3: #0051b2
Blue 4: #135bae
Blue 5: #003f75
Blue 6: #4a90e2
Blue 7: #0f8fff
Blue 8: #498fe208
Blue 9: #004588
Blue Gray: #283C50
Green: #71a000
Green 2: #99cccc
Green 3: #79ab00
Green 4: #5B8200
Green 5: #679100
Green 6: #aaf003
Teal: #99cccc
Red: #D93B3B
Red: #d0011b
Gray: #4d4d4d
Gray 2: #c0c0c0
Gray 3: #f3f3f3
Light Gray: #e3e5e6
Light Gray 2: #eaeaea
Dark Gray: #1C1A1D
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Gray3 Background Color: #f3f3f3
Black: #000
White: #FFF
Blue: #004785
Blue 1: #337ab7
Blue 2: #0f5eb8
Blue 3: #0051b2
Blue 4: #135bae
Blue 5: #003f75
Blue 6: #4a90e2
Blue 7: #0f8fff
Blue 8: #498fe208
Blue 9: #004588
Blue Gray: #283C50
Green: #71a000
Green 2: #99cccc
Green 3: #79ab00
Green 4: #5B8200
Green 5: #679100
Green 6: #aaf003
Teal: #99cccc
Red: #D93B3B
Red: #d0011b
Gray: #4d4d4d
Gray 2: #c0c0c0
Gray 3: #f3f3f3
Light Gray: #e3e5e6
Light Gray 2: #eaeaea
Dark Gray: #1C1A1D
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Alternative Text > Figures alternative text
Toggle More InfoRight click, select 'Fix' and fill out an appropriate description for each image in the PDF. Use the right arrow to go to the next item and click 'Save & Close'.
Note: Even though your PDF may not have images inside of it, there may be decorative images like lines/bars or something you can't see. If this is the case, check mark 'Decorative Figure':
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Tables > TH and TD
Toggle More InfoThe appropriate formatting for tables are the following:
<table>
<tr>
<th>First Heading</th>
<th>Second Heading</th>
<th>Third Heading</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cell 1 - Row 1</td>
<td>Cell 2 - Row 1</td>
<td>Cell 3 - Row 1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cell 1 - Row 2</td>
<td>Cell 2 - Row 2</td>
<td>Cell 3 - Row 2</td>
</tr>
</table>TH is used for the heading cells.
TD is used for regular cells.
For image instructions, follow the 'Tables > Headers' instructions.
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Tables > Headers
Toggle More InfoIf your issue looks like this:
Then you have incorrectly name headings. On the element, right click and then left click on Show in Tags Panel.
Left click on the trouble item in the left bar then expand it.
The <TD>'s under the <TR> need to be changed to say <TH> (for Table Heading).
For more details on how a table should be structured in PDFs, view the "Tables > TH and TD" accordion above.
Now that it's been fixed, go back to the accessibility tab (circled red in picture below), then right click the element and click 'Check Again'.
The error should go away and the message should say Passed.
Alternative Method:
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Headings > Appropriate Nesting
Toggle More InfoInstructions
To change the Appropriate Nesting, right click the issue and 'Show in Tags Panel'.
This will take you to the heading that is displaying an error.
If the first heading in a PDF is flagged, it’s usually because it was not marked up as a Level 1 heading. A document must always have a heading 1.
If that's the case, it’s may say <H2>, which is a level 2 heading. The first heading in a PDF must always be a Level 1 heading.
To fix it, right click to open the menu, the click 'Properties...', change the Type to Heading Level 1.
Repeat this process for all other Header errors.
Headings should always be in order:
<H1>
<H2>
<H3>
<H4>
<H5>
<H6>Examples:
If a number is skipped like:
<H1>
<H3>That will produce an error. Change the H3 to H2.
Using Paragraphs <P> (If the Heading isn't working)
A <P> (paragraph) can follow any Heading number and does not need to be in any order.
If needed a <P> can take the place of any heading (besides H1), paragraphs can be used if a heading is still giving you an error.
Do not use <P2> or any numbers inside of the <P>. -
Page Content > Tagged Annotations
Toggle More InfoRight-click the element > Show in Content Panel, this will take you to the item that is displaying the issue.
Right click on the item in the left bar that is giving the issue and then click 'Find' (the item giving the issue was whatever was selected).
A pop up box will appear, click the dropdown and select 'Unmarked Annotations', click the 'Search Document' button, then click Find.
Once it finds the item, click 'Tag Element'. A new pop up will appear, click the 'Type' dropdown and find the appropriate type for the item. Click Ok.
Keep repeating: 'Tag element' > Type: [Correct type] > OK.
Once it's done it will give a message saying 'Find was complete'.
Go back to the accessibility checker, and right click > check again. The accessibility checker should have a green checkmark now.
Recommended Resources
Explore details on and check out the .
Tag Cloud
PDFSContentGraphicsAccessibilityDisabilityImagesComplianceHeadingsADAWriting
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