ADA Compliance refers to adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a U.S. federal law passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The act ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to public services, buildings, and information, among other things.
For PDFs and digital content, ADA compliance means ensuring that the digital materials you create or distribute are accessible to individuals with disabilities, particularly those who use assistive technologies like screen readers. The goal is to provide equal access to information and services to people with disabilities, just as it’s provided to others.
Here are the key components of ADA compliance in the context of PDFs:
Screen Reader Compatibility: PDFs should be structured in a way that screen readers can interpret. This includes proper use of headings, tags, alternative text for images, and accessible form fields.
Alternative Text (Alt Text): Images, charts, and other non-text content in a PDF must have descriptive alt text so that visually impaired users can understand the content.
Proper Structure and Tagging: Text and elements in the document must be properly tagged and organized. This ensures that users who rely on screen readers can navigate the document logically, with the content being read aloud in the correct order.
Color Contrast and Readability: The document must have sufficient contrast between text and background, making it readable for people with low vision or color blindness.
Accessible Forms: Forms within PDFs must be accessible by providing proper labels, instructions, and navigation options for users with disabilities.
Compliance with WCAG: ADA compliance often overlaps with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which set standards for accessible content across digital platforms.
Ensuring ADA compliance is essential for organizations to avoid legal issues and to provide equal access to information for all users, including those with disabilities.