ACCESSIBILITY TOPIC: ACCESSIBLE PDFS
Accessible PDFs are essential for individuals who are blind or have low vision, as they rely on screen readers and other assistive technologies like text-to-speech programs to interpret text and structure.
They also benefit people with cognitive disabilities or motor impairments who may need keyboard navigation or simplified layouts to understand and interact with the content effectively.
Accessible PDF checklist
- Searchable Text: The text within the PDF must be selectable and readable by screen readers.
- Image Alt Text: Images need alternative text descriptions that convey the same information for users who can't see the image.
- Logical Structure: The PDF should have a logical structure with appropriate headings, paragraphs, and lists to facilitate navigation.
- Navigation: Bookmarks, a table of contents, and descriptive hyperlinks for easy navigation.
- Color and contrast: Correct color contrast and alternatives for color-coded information.
- Forms and interactive elements: Properly labeled and accessible form fields and interactive elements.
- Metadata and language specification: Accurate metadata and specify the document’s language.
Microsoft Word and Excel have accessibility checkers built in and can help guide you in creating an accessible file, which can then be saved as an accessible PDF.
Learn more about creating and verifying PDFs in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
What’s Next?
Cascade contributors and approvers will soon be receiving an email with an Excel file that lists all PDFs in a specific site. The email will also contain a step-by-step guide, important information about what you need to do, and resources to achieve that outcome.
Your group of Cascade users will need to determine if each file is essential or obsolete by opening each file and reviewing it, then following the action steps provided.
Updates must be completed by December 31, 2025.
A review of all pages on the unomaha.edu site will begin in January of 2026. Pages that have not been corrected may be removed from the website.
The UNO website must be in compliance on April 24, 2026.
Please email uno.web@nebraska.edu if you need assistance.
Visit UNO Digital Accessibility
