Adobe Acrobat Reader Accessibility: Tagging

Overview

Adobe Accessibility Tags are HTML elements to make PDF documents, websites, and digital content accessible to individuals with disabilities, particularly those relying on screen readers. These tags help ensure that content is navigable and understandable by people with visual, auditory, or cognitive impairments. 

Considerations

1. Semantic Structure: Accessibility tags define the logical structure of a document (headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.), helping screen readers interpret and navigate content properly. 
2. Tagging Hierarchy:  Ensure a logical reading order by checking the tag tree in the PDF. The order in which the tags are arranged directly correlates to the order in which elements are identified and read by screen readers. It is crucial to ensure that all elements are tagged correctly and in the correct order. 

Video Demonstration

Tagging a Document

1. Select All tools
2. Select Prepare for Accessibility 
3. Select Automatically Tag PDF. 

Verifying Tags

Walking the tag tree in Adobe verifies accessibility by ensuring content is ordered correctly for screen readers. Clicking each tag will highlight the associated content. 

1. Open the Tags Panel
2. Initiate the walk. Click the first tag at the top of the tree.
3. Navigate down using the down arrow key to move through the tags one by one. 
4. Verify structure as you walk down. Ensure the highlighted elements follow a natural reading order (left-to-right, top-to-bottom) and that no elements are skipped or incorrectly. 
5.  

Changing Tag Types

1. Open the Tags panel, right-click the target tag
2. Select Properties 
   
   
3. Drop-down the Type field and select the correct tag type
4. Select Close
   
   

Creating a New Tag

If there is untagged content in your document, you must tag the content. 

1. Open the Tags panel
2. Right-click on an existing tag
3. Select New Tag
   
   

Create Tag from Selection 

If the content of a tag is not correct, you can re-tag to add the correct content. If you are adding a new tag, you can add new content to the tag using the Create Tag from Selection option. 

1. Open the Tags panel
2. Select the desired parent tag 
3. Highlight the text, image, or content on the PDF page.
   
   
   
   
4. Right-click the parent tag in the Tags panel and select Create Tag from Selection

Common Types of Tags

• Headings (<H1> - <H6>): These create a hierarchical outline of the document, allowing users to navigate content. H1 should only be used once.
• Paragraphs (<P>): Used for standard, non-structural body text.
• List Tags (<L>, <LI>, <LBody>): Structuring lists, including the list item (<LI>) and the item body (<LBody>).
• Figures (<Figure>): Identifies images, graphics, or illustrations, which must contain descriptive alternative text.
• Links (<Link>): Identifies hyperlinks and must be followed by a Link-OBJR tag.
• Tables (<Table>, <TR>, <TH>, <TD>): Structuring data into rows, headers, and cells.
• Container Tags (<Div>, <Sect>, <Art>): These group related content together to define logical sections, such as articles or divisions.
• Caption (<Caption>): Labels for figures or tables.
• Table of Contents (<TOC>): Used for a structured list of document items and navigation entries.