Make a document more accessible
Use structure, descriptive links and meaningful image alternatives, then review the exported document.
Follow the method ↓
The answer in 30 seconds
A document can look orderly while remaining difficult to navigate with assistive technology. Visual size alone does not make a heading, and an image may need a text alternative to convey its purpose.
Start with the source file: apply real heading styles, write clear link labels, describe informative images, mark table headers and check reading order after export.
Examples to adapt
Use heading levels so readers can jump between sections.
Summarise its main finding in surrounding text and provide a suitable text alternative.
Use actual header cells and avoid a layout table that obscures the reading sequence.
Follow the method
- 1Structure the source
Apply heading styles in a logical order and keep paragraph text as paragraphs.
- 2Clarify non-text content
Write purposeful link text and image alternatives that fit the surrounding context.
- 3Inspect tables and order
Identify headers and check that the reading sequence remains understandable.
- 4Export and test
Review the PDF or shared format with available accessibility checks and, where possible, a keyboard or screen reader.
A checklist to keep
Use these checks to record what you found. The grid supports a decision; it does not make one for you.
| Check | What to examine | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Headings | Are levels structural and ordered? | Apply |
| Images | Is essential meaning available in text? | Describe |
| Links | Can purpose be understood alone? | Rewrite |
| Tables | Are header relationships clear? | Mark |
| Export | Does reading order survive? | Test |
Free, no sign-up. UTF-8 text with semicolon-separated columns.
What to check
Automatic checkers cannot judge whether alternative text conveys the right meaning.
A scanned image of text may require OCR and manual correction.
Export settings can lose structure present in the source file.
Common questions
Should every image have a long description?
No. Describe informative images according to their purpose; decorative images can be marked accordingly.
Is a tagged PDF automatically accessible?
No. Check reading order, wording and actual task completion as well as technical tags.
Sources and documentation
Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.