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10 Years of Research into PDF Accessibility

Scheduled at 11:30 in Virtual E on Thursday, November 19.

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Speaker(s)

  • Karen McCall, Accessible Document Design Consultant, Coach, and Educator, Karlen Communications

Session Details

  • Length of Session: 1-hr
  • Format: Lecture
  • Expertise Level: All Levels
  • Type of session: General Conference

Summary

For the past 10 years I’ve been conducting original research into the accessibility of PDFs from the user perspective and the remediator perspective. This remote session examines the results of the research to provide a roadmap for advancement in the accessibility of PDFs for those with disabilities. Topics discussed include PDF versus HTML or other formats, the accessibility barriers encountered by those using adaptive technology such as screen readers, the barriers encountered by those remedia

Abstract

If someone using a screen reader is asked if the accessibility of PDFs has improved over the past 10 years, what would their answer be? If someone remediating PDFs for the past 10 years were asked to identify improvements in the remediation process would there be any? This remote session consolidates original research conducted over the past 10 years to provide insight into the experience of those with disabilities who are attempting to not only :access” PDFs but to be able to find information they need or want, understand that information and make use of it. However, before someone can “access” and read a PDF, it must be “accessible”. This session provides insight into the accessibility barriers encountered by those who remediate PDFs daily. The research reveals common threads between the two sides of PDF accessibility. Topics include the arguments for HTML instead of PDF, the need to ensure that PDF remediators have access to cost-effective tools that provide the functionality they need, and the inability of PDF Editors and PDF Readers to meet the needs of both sides of the PDF accessibility process. The ultimate question is: Has PDF accessibility improved over the past 10 years?

Keypoints

  1. Research on how users with disabilities identify PDF accessibility can inform decisions on file format and document structure.
  2. Research on the remediation process to make PDFs accessible can inform organizations on costing versus effectiveness of remediation
  3. Key point 3: Research provides information on the current state of PDF accessibility to inform faculty and staff for decision making on publication format.

Disability Areas

All Areas

Topic Areas

Accessible Course Design, Alternate Format, Artificial Intelligence, Assistive Technology, Faculty Development & Support, Legal, Teaching about Accessibility in Curriculum, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Karen McCall

Karen McCall, M.Ed. is the owner of Karlen Communications. She has been working in the field of accessible document design since 1999. She began her career in website accessibility and auditing and moved to accessible Word, PowerPoint and PDF documents in 2004. Karen is a Canadian delegate to the ISO 14289 or PDF/UA (Universal Access) and the ISO 32000 PDF committee. She has been a Microsoft MVP for Word (Most Valued Professional) since 2009 and a Microsoft Accessibility MVP since 2017 when this category of MVP was established. Karen has written several books on the topic of accessible document design for Word, PowerPoint and PDF documents as well as smaller publications with specific techniques for working with Office applications if you are using adaptive technology and/or the keyboard.