Scheduled at 10:30am in Penrose 1 on Monday, November 11.
#39462Speaker(s)
- Dax Castro, Accessible Document Specialist, Chax Training and Consulting
- Chad Chelius, Accessible Document Specialist, Chax Training and Consulting
Session Details
- Length of Session: 5-6-hr
- Format: Bring-your-own Device Workshop: PC laptop or Mac running Parallels, Programs: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and PAC 2024
- Expertise Level: Beginner
- Type of session: Pre-conference
Summary
This full day pre-conference lab starts at the absolute beginning. If you are new to PDF accessibility or just struggle with the basics, attending this class will put you on the right path. We'll start by understanding how people with disabilities use PDFs. By the end of the day, you'll be able to fix common problems and make your own accessible PDFs. You'll learn how to check a PDF beyond the Acrobat Accessibility Checker, spot common issues, and how to fix them using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
Abstract
In this workshop designed for complete beginners, we'll explore how to make PDFs easier for everyone to use. The day will be broken down into clear steps to help you build a strong foundation and practical skills. We'll begin by looking at how people with disabilities use PDFs. Understanding their challenges will guide everything we cover throughout the day. Next, we'll learn how to check a PDF to see if it's accessible. We start with the Acrobat Accessibility Checker and then show you how to increase compliance using the free PDF Accessibility Checker PAC 2024. You'll discover what to look for and how to identify common problems that can make a PDF difficult for some users.
We'll also dive into the basic tags used to make PDFs accessible. You'll learn about these tags and how they help structure PDFs for better accessibility. Throughout the day, we'll have interactive activities and demonstrations to reinforce what you've learned. You'll get hands-on practice guided by Adobe-certified experts Chad Chelius, ADS and Dax Castro, ADS.
Finally, we'll have a practical session where you'll work on fixing issues in a sample document using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. By the end of the workshop, you'll feel confident and equipped to start making your own PDFs accessible.
Please remember to bring your laptop with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC installed to get the most out of the practical exercises.
Join us for this engaging and informative workshop that will help you understand and improve PDF accessibility. Whether you're new to this topic or looking to strengthen your skills, this workshop will set you on the right path to creating PDFs that everyone can use easily.
Keypoints
- Learn what defines a truly accessible PDF document
- Learn basic tag structure, common problems and fixes
- Understand key testing workflows to ensure compliance and usability
Disability Areas
Cognitive/Learning, Mobility, Vision
Topic Areas
Alternate Format, Assistive Technology, Other, Uncategorized, Web/Media/App Access
Speaker Bio(s)
Dax Castro
Dax is an Adobe Certified PDF Accessibility Trainer, Accessible Document Specialist and member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. He has more than 25 years experience creating digital content using InDesign, Acrobat and other creative software. Dax specializes in user-centered accessibility approaches that push the envelope of technology to produce more robust accessible documents that still meet Section 508, WCAG 2.0/2.1 and PDF/UA compliance. Dax is also the co-host of the accessibility podcast Chax Chat streaming on all major podcast platforms.
Chad Chelius
Chad Chelius is a trainer, author, consultant, and speaker as well as Director of Training Solutioins and Principal for Chax Training and Consulting. He resides in the Philadelphia area and has been using Adobe products for over 25 years. He began his career in the design and publishing industry. As an Adobe Certified Instructor and consultant he teaches and advises on all Adobe print and web products, specializing in InDesign and InCopy workflows, Illustrator, automation, and PDF accessibility using InDesign, Word, and Adobe Acrobat. He works with clients both large and small in and outside of the United States, helping them to solve design, workflow, and accessibility challenges using Adobe products. Chad is a LinkedIn Learning author and you can connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.