Creating ADA Accessible PDFs

The easiest way to create accessible PDFs is to create accessible MS Word documents and then convert. The Duke Web Accessibility Team has put together 8 Tips for a More Accessible Microsoft Word Document, which is a great place to start. Instructions for completing each tip is on their website. 

  • Tip 1: Add a document title
  • Tip 2: Ensure the document uses headings
  • Tip 3: Mark table headers
  • Tip 4: Add alt text to images
  • Tip 5: Lists should use list items
  • Tip 6: Use helpful link text
  • Tip 7: Ensure the text has good color contrast
  • Tip 8: Accessibility Checker
  • How to export a Word Document to PDF for accessibility