When PDFs meet digital accessibility criteria, they can be accessed by people who are mobility impaired, blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, or who have cognitive impairments. They are easier to use with and without assistive technology such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, text-to-speech software, speech recognition software, alternative input devices, Braille embossers, and refreshable Braille displays.
All students benefit from accessible materials, even those without an identified disability. Accessibility features improve display on small screens and mobile devices, tab order for navigating documents, and screen reader experience for a wide range of learning abilities.
The Digital Accessibility Committee is providing the PDF remediation service, Commonlook. Send your PDFs to ematusevitch@commonlook.com and Commonlook will return it in an accessible format. This is a temporary service offered in Summer/Fall 2022 and will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Use the following resources to learn how to create accessible PDFs, fix inaccessible PDFs, and build digital accessibility knowledge and skills.
Follow our step-by-step guide for creating accessible PDFs. Additionally, watch this video on making scanned documents accessible.
The Reed Library provides access to tons of materials that are already accessible. Search for your documents or ask a librarian for help.
Take our self-paced Digital Accessibility 2.0 course in Canvas.
We would love to provide customized support. Keep an eye out for upcoming workshops or email us to schedule one-on-one or group training. The Center for Teaching & Learning is also available to support you in creating accessible courses.
Contact the Digital Accessibility Committee
Contact Center for Teaching & Learning