PDF remediation

PDFs are everywhere — annual reports, policies, invoices, brochures, application forms — and they are frequently the least accessible content an organization publishes. A PDF that looks fine on screen can be a dead end for a screen-reader user: no headings to navigate by, images with no description, tables that read as a jumble, and forms that can’t be completed. PDF remediation fixes that.

Why PDFs need remediation

Most PDFs are “untagged” — they contain no structural information about what is a heading, a list, a table, or an image. Assistive technology relies on that structure. Without it, the document is effectively inaccessible, and it counts against your WCAG and EAA conformance just like any other web content.

What we remediate

• Tags & structure — a correct tag tree for headings, paragraphs, lists, and tables
• Reading order — content announced in the right sequence
• Alternative text — descriptions for informative images; decorative images marked to be skipped
• Tables — header cells associated with data cells so relationships are clear
• Forms — labelled fields, logical tab order, and keyboard operability
• Language, title & metadata — document language, title, and bookmarks set correctly
• Color & contrast — flagged where text fails contrast requirements

Our process

1. Assessment — We evaluate your documents and prioritize by importance and reach.
2. Remediation — We add tags, set reading order, write alt text, and fix tables and forms.
3. Validation — Each file is checked against PDF/UA and tested with screen readers.
4. Delivery — You receive accessible, validated PDFs and, if you wish, guidance to keep future documents accessible from the start.

Standards we meet

Documents are remediated to WCAG 2.2 and PDF/UA (ISO 14289), supporting your obligations under the EAA, ADA, and Section 508. For ongoing publishing, pair remediation with process improvement so accessible documents become the default, not an afterthought.