{"id":1297,"date":"2025-09-29T10:59:38","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T14:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/?p=1297"},"modified":"2025-10-13T13:14:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T17:14:55","slug":"pesky-pdfs-three-strategies-for-addressing-inaccessible-pdfs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/2025\/09\/29\/pesky-pdfs-three-strategies-for-addressing-inaccessible-pdfs\/","title":{"rendered":"Pesky PDFs! Three Strategies for Addressing Inaccessible PDFs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1297\" class=\"elementor elementor-1297\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c71393c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c71393c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-538ef39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"538ef39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"660\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/files\/2025\/09\/inaccessibility-edvice-2.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1300\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/files\/2025\/09\/inaccessibility-edvice-2.png 1024w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/files\/2025\/09\/inaccessibility-edvice-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/files\/2025\/09\/inaccessibility-edvice-2-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-829e067 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"829e067\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As we\u2019ve begun rolling out the Accessible Temple workshops and resources, one of the questions we most frequently receive is what to do about PDFs. There is undoubtedly work involved in the process of ensuring accessibility of PDFs but if the work of remediating a PDF is turning into hours and hours of excruciating labor, it\u2019s time to look for help.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suggestion 1: Consider Alternative Formats<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">PDFs are notoriously inaccessible and difficult to remediate. Often, the best first step is to consider alternative formats.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use a Word document version for documents. (Note: If links to Microsoft webpages below do not open, delete browsing data for your web browser and try opening again.)\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the PDF was initially a Word document, go back to the original document. Check for and correct accessibility issues. Word\u2019s Accessibility Checker is helpful but will not catch all accessibility issues (this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/make-your-word-documents-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities-d9bf3683-87ac-47ea-b91a-78dcacb3c66d\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">guide on making Word documents accessible<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> has a helpful checklist). Consider sharing as a Word document or read-only Google Doc\/Word 365 link rather than a PDF. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/protect-a-document-with-a-password-05084cc3-300d-4c1a-8416-38d3e37d6826\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Word documents can be encrypted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to reduce editing if they are shared as a downloadable file.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you do not have a version of the document in Word, you can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/export-word-document-as-pdf-4e89b30d-9d7d-4866-af77-3af5536b974c\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">export from the PDF to Word<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, use the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/improve-accessibility-with-the-accessibility-checker-a16f6de0-2f39-4a2b-8bd8-5ad801426c7f\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Accessibility Checker<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to fix issues and share as a Word doc. Note that for poorly scanned or complex PDFs, exporting to Word may add rather than solve accessibility issues, in which case, you will have to try suggestions 2 and 3 below.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Link directly to the library resource.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If Temple Libraries or the publisher has a permalink for the journal article, case, book chapter, etc., consider posting the link rather than a PDF of the item. This guide has additional information on best practices for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1E2sKuHHOZTELehbvZ1m1mpIs7dIAiuWK\/edit\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">using Temple Libraries content accessibly<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Post PowerPoint slides rather than PDFs of slides.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.microsoft.com\/en-us\/office\/improve-accessibility-with-the-accessibility-checker-a16f6de0-2f39-4a2b-8bd8-5ad801426c7f\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">accessibility checker<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in PowerPoint to fix any issues and share through Google Slides or PowerPoint 365 in view-only mode.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p>See the University of Michigan\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/accessibility\/rethinking-pdfs\/alternatives\/\">PDF Alternatives guide<\/a> for additional alternatives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af265b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af265b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suggestion 2: Use Course Reserves<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Temple Libraries\u2019 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/guides.temple.edu\/reserves\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">course reserves program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> allows instructors to request that their course materials be made available to students via the library. Instructors build a \u201creading list\u201d of all their course materials in Canvas, and the library steps in where needed to provide the materials for your class. The library will ensure that PDFs delivered through course reserves can be read via screen reader but faculty must also review the PDF to confirm full accessibility (e.g., elements such as alt text are not addressed by Temple Libraries). The course reserves may be especially useful if you have content such as a textbook chapter or journal article that was not scanned in such a way as to be accessible and requires remediation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Using electronic course reserves can be helpful to:<\/span><\/p><ol><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ol><li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Acquire texts not currently among the library\u2019s holdings. Use the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/guides.temple.edu\/c.php?g=78267&amp;p=10507794\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Manual Entry option<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to add these texts to your reading list.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Request texts in a different format (e.g., a scan of a chapter from a print book). Use the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/guides.temple.edu\/c.php?g=78267&amp;p=10507790\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Request Digitization option<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to add these texts to your reading list.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you have questions or require additional support, contact Temple Libraries staff at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:asktulibrary@temple.edu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">asktulibrary@temple.edu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Your message will go into the library\u2019s email ticketing system and be routed to the best person to answer your questions.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b7d26a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b7d26a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suggestion 3: Remediate the PDF<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While we strongly recommend finding alternatives to PDFs whenever possible, there will no doubt be times when that is not an option. In those instances when you absolutely <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">must <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">use a particular file, you will want to remediate the PDF using the Panorama accessibility checker in Canvas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We\u2019ve created a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1ZwWnF19R6kgmzKRGjf-vW0U_kBN2E9BX\/edit?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=107753749528742511254&amp;rtpof=true&amp;sd=true\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How-to Guide on Remediating PDFs Using Panorama<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This guide will walk you through the process of opening the PDF accessibility report and making the necessary changes to ensure your PDF is truly and functionally accessible. Keep in mind that all PDFs require a manual review to confirm correct reading order as part of any accessibility check with Panorama.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the coming weeks, we will also be sharing a PDF remediation video via our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@catattempleuniversity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">CAT YouTube channel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. We are continuously updating our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/teaching.temple.edu\/resources\/accessible-temple\/accessibility-resources\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Accessibility Resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to support you as you update and create your materials.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While Panorama is a helpful tool, there are instances when it is unable to address each issue, or when its attempts to address one accessibility issue create new accessibility issues that make the new version less accessible than the original. In these instances, you can undo the remediation by opening the Accessibility Report, scrolling down to \u201cUpdate Document,\u201d and clicking the three dots \u201cMore Actions\u201d menu. Select \u201cVersion History\u201d to see all previous versions of the document and revert to your preferred version.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For more information on what PDFs are, what makes a PDF inaccessible, and considerations for ensuring accessibility, see <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1wyqxBF6gnVrpLyPk8uJSm-t-g3zd0SNl\/view?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Equidox Guide to PDF Accessibility<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e149d9 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4e149d9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As we\u2019ve begun rolling out the Accessible Temple workshops and resources, one of the questions we most frequently receive is what to do about PDFs. There is undoubtedly work involved in the process of ensuring accessibility of PDFs but if the work of remediating a PDF is turning into hours and hours of excruciating labor, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/2025\/09\/29\/pesky-pdfs-three-strategies-for-addressing-inaccessible-pdfs\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Pesky PDFs! Three Strategies for Addressing Inaccessible PDFs<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29430,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessibility"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29430"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1297"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1307,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1297\/revisions\/1307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.temple.edu\/edvice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}