PDF Remediation

In an increasingly digital world, the use of PDFs (Portable Document Format) for sharing information has become ubiquitous. However, PDFs often present accessibility challenges, which can prove a barrier for individuals with disabilities. At Aligotech, we have established ourselves as experts in providing PDF remediation services that go beyond the conventional conversion process. We are committed to ensuring that your PDF documents become universally accessible and inclusive.

Our comprehensive approach to PDF remediation encompasses various crucial aspects. One key element is the addition of descriptive alternative text (alt text) to images and graphics. This ensures that visual content becomes understandable for those who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies. Additionally, we meticulously structure your PDF documents with clear headings, lists, and semantic tags, creating a logical document layout that enhances the document’s organization and navigability, ensuring a seamless reading experience.

When it comes to tabular data, our experts format tables for clarity and meaning, allowing screen readers to interpret tabular data accurately. Inclusion of vital metadata elements, such as the document title and language information, significantly improves searchability and accessibility. We also pay close attention to the selection of highly legible fonts and ensure adequate contrast between text and background colors to enhance readability for all users.

Moreover, our commitment to accessibility extends to compliance with PDF/UA (PDF/Universal Accessibility) standards. This ensures that your PDF documents are fully compatible with a wide range of assistive technologies, making your content accessible to individuals with various disabilities.

With Aligotech, your focus goes beyond achieving mere legal compliance; it’s a commitment to inclusivity. We empower your content to be clear, navigable, and understandable by all. We firmly believe that accessibility is a fundamental right, and we work diligently to ensure that your digital content reaches the widest possible audience.

Details of Compliance We Follow:
  • WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): Adherence to WCAG standards ensures content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust, making text, images, and multimedia accessible.
  • Section 508: Our services align with Section 508 standards, ensuring federal agencies’ electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities.
  • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): We ensure ADA compliance, covering public places, services, and digital content, making them accessible to all individuals.
  • AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act): For clients in Ontario, we follow AODA requirements to make digital content accessible for individuals with disabilities.
  • PDF/UA (PDF/Universal Accessibility): We optimize PDFs to meet PDF/UA standards, making them universally accessible and compatible with assistive technologies.
Points We Keep in Mind During PDF Remediation:
  • Alternative Text for Images: Descriptive alt text for images ensures content comprehension for screen reader users.
  • Logical Document Structure: Creating a structured hierarchy with headings and semantic tags, such as H1, H2, and H3, makes the document navigable for all readers.
  • Accessible Tables: Proper table formatting, including headers, enhances data comprehension for screen reader users.
  • Document Metadata: Including metadata like document titles and language information improves searchability and accessibility.
  • Readable Fonts and Contrast: Font selection and contrast maintenance enhance overall readability for all users.
  • PDF/UA Compliance: Adhering to PDF/UA standards guarantees compatibility with assistive technologies, ensuring universal accessibility.

By following these compliance standards and considering these key points during PDF remediation, we ensure that your documents are accessible, inclusive, and compliant with international and regional accessibility guidelines.

PowerPoint Remediation

  • Slide Structure: Organize your presentation with a clear and logical slide structure. Use headings and subheadings consistently to guide the audience and assist screen reader users.
  • Accessible Text: Ensure that all text content, including titles, bullet points, and captions, is readable and accessible. Avoid using text within images or complex fonts.
  • Alternative Text for Images: Provide descriptive alt text for all images and graphics used in your slides to convey their meaning to visually impaired individuals.
  • Readable Fonts and Contrast: Choose legible fonts and maintain sufficient contrast between text and background colors to enhance visibility for all viewers, including those with visual impairments.
  • Multimedia Accessibility: Make audio and video elements accessible by providing transcripts, captions, and audio descriptions as needed. Ensure that multimedia content can be controlled by keyboard commands.
  • Hyperlink Clarity: If you include hyperlinks in your presentation, make sure they have clear and descriptive text, so users understand their purpose. Avoid using generic link text like “click here.”

InDesign Remediation

  • Text Styles and Hierarchy: Establish consistent text styles and hierarchy using Paragraph Styles to ensure uniform formatting, such as headings, subheadings, and body text throughout the document.
  • Alt Text for Images: Provide alternative text (alt text) for all images and graphics, allowing screen readers to describe visual content to users with visual impairments.
  • Proper Use of Tables: When using tables, ensure they are properly structured with headers and data cells identified. Use table styles for consistent formatting.
  • Accessibility Checker: Utilize InDesign’s built-in accessibility checker to identify and resolve potential accessibility issues within your document.
  • Interactive Elements: If your document contains interactive elements like buttons or forms, ensure they are accessible and navigable using keyboard controls.
  • Export to Accessible PDF: When exporting your InDesign document to PDF format, use settings that support accessibility features like tagged PDFs, bookmarks, and document structure.

Word Remediation

  • Headings and Styles: Apply consistent heading styles (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2) to create a structured hierarchy within the document, aiding navigation and accessibility.
  • Alternative Text for Images: Add descriptive alt text to images and graphics, ensuring that visually impaired readers can understand the content through screen readers.
  • Hyperlink Clarity: Use descriptive link text that conveys the purpose of each hyperlink, avoiding generic phrases like “click here.”
  • Accessible Tables: Format tables correctly, including header rows and columns, and ensure that the table structure is meaningful when read aloud by screen readers.
  • Lists and List Items: Use proper list formatting (bulleted or numbered) for lists and ensure list items are correctly marked up for accessibility.
  • Check for Accessibility: Utilize Word’s built-in accessibility checker to identify and rectify any issues, ensuring your document meets accessibility standards.

Excel Remediation

  • Structured Table Design: Create well-structured tables with clear headers and data cells, enabling screen readers to interpret and convey data accurately.
  • Column and Row Headers: Ensure that each column and row has clear and descriptive headers, making it easy for all users to understand the content.
  • Accessible Charts and Graphs: Add alternative text descriptions to charts and graphs, providing context and meaning for users who cannot view visual content.
  • Logical Reading Order: Organize your spreadsheet so that the reading order makes sense when using screen readers. Follow a top-to-bottom, left-to-right order.
  • Color Contrast: Maintain sufficient color contrast between text and background colors to improve readability for users with visual impairments.
  • Data Validation and Formulas: If your spreadsheet contains data validation or formulas, ensure they are error-free and that their results are clearly presented.