Accessible PDFs

Accessibility

WCAG 2.1

PDF/A

Screen readers

Structure

Government

Clear, user-friendly and WCAG-compliant

An accessible PDF is more than just a beautifully formatted document. It's a digital file that's readable and navigable for everyone—including those with visual or motor impairments. By using the right technical structure, such as headings, tags, and alternative text, information is presented clearly and easily usable with tools like screen readers. This way, the content remains not only visually appealing but also functionally accessible to a wider audience.

Tablets met grafieken en diagrammen, laptop, zwarte achtergrond met witte diagonale lijnen, tekst:

Accessible and beautifully designed

More and more organizations, including government agencies, the national government, design agencies, and freelance designers, want or need to make their documents digitally accessible. This means a PDF must be technically sound, with the correct structure, tags, and alternative text.

I ensure that PDFs comply with the international WCAG 2.1 and PDF/UA guidelines, without compromising the design. Accessible yet beautiful—it can go hand in hand.

I work for government agencies, design agencies and companies such as NS Stations, Shell and Quooker, where accessibility and consistent design go hand in hand.

What makes a PDF accessible?

An accessible PDF has a logical, semantic structure. The formatting tells not only how something looks, but also what it is. For example, a screen reader knows what a heading is, what is plain text, and where a table begins or ends.

To this end, I add or thoroughly check the following elements:

Correct tag structure (headings, paragraphs, lists, tables)
Alternative texts for images and graphs
Keyboard navigation and correct reading order
Bookmarks for quick navigation
Language settings and metadata
Check with tools such as PAC 3 and Adobe Acrobat Preflight

Every step is carefully tested so that the end result is not only technically correct, but also user-friendly for all readers.

Why it's important

Legal obligation: Governments, educational institutions and semi-governmental organisations must comply with the WCAG 2.1 AA guideline.
Professional appearance: Accessible documents demonstrate your commitment to quality and inclusivity.
Better usability and findability: A structured PDF is more searchable, more readable on mobile devices, and more indexable by search engines.
Future-proof: An accessible PDF remains compatible with future technologies.

How I work

As a technical graphic designer, I combine design with in-depth knowledge of the technical structure of PDFs. I work with InDesign, Acrobat Pro, and specialized proofreading tools to make documents accessible or correct existing PDFs. In doing so, I consider both WCAG requirements and the organization's visual identity.

Want to know more?

Want to know if your PDFs meet accessibility standards, or need advice on how to incorporate them into your workflow? Feel free to contact us for a free check or consultation.