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Homework 1A: Create an Accessible PDF

Deliverables

Accessible PDF - 50 points

Getting Started

You will need to run Adobe Acrobat Pro DC to do this assignment. If you don't already have your own Adobe Creative Cloud license, you have two options to access Acrobat.

  1. Use Virtual Andrew.
    1. Log into Virtual Andrew from your web browser or through the Omnissa Horizon client application.
    2. Once you have logged into the Virtual Windows account, find Acrobat in the Start Menu and run it.
  2. Install Adobe Creative Cloud with a license that we've given you for this class.
    1. Go to the Creative Cloud website and click Sign In.
    2. Enter your Andrew email address when prompted.
    3. Click Continue and then, if prompted, click Company or School Account.
    4. Enter your Andrew userID and password at the CMU Web Login screen.
    5. If you have trouble logging in, please submit a help ticket to CMU IT.
    6. Click Install Creative Cloud App.
    7. Double-click the installer file and follow the instructions.
    8. Open the Adobe Creative Cloud application.
    9. Sign in (again) using the same instructions above.
    10. Once the application opens, click the Install button for Adobe Acrobat Pro.
    11. NOTE: If you have been provided with a license but cannot access the software after installing or are on a trial, log out of the Acrobat program and log back in using the Sign-in Instructions below to reset the Adobe License on your computer.

Goal

The goal of this assignment is to create an accessible PDF from an inaccessible one. We will list instructions here, but they are pulled from a larger document helpfully put together for the CHI 2021 conference.

Instructions

Download the assignment file and open using Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Check for Accessibility

  1. Click on All tools in the top nav bar. This will open the All tools nav bar. Find the Prepare for Accessibility Tool and click on it.

  2. Run the Check for Accessibility Tool. This tool will generate an accessibility report which you will turn in along with your accessibile PDF document (Make note of where this report is saved so you can find it later). In Acrobat this should open up a pane on the right side showing several issues with the current document including:

    1. Document Issues
      • Tagged PDF
      • Logical Reading Order
      • Primary Language
      • Color Contrast
    2. Page Content
      • Document Tags
      • Tab Order
    3. Alternate Text
      • Figures have no Alternative Text
    4. Tables
      • Table Content not properly tagged
      • Rows
      • TH and TD
      • Headers
      • Regularity
    5. Lists
      • Not Properly Tagged
    6. Headings
      • Not Properly Nested

Fix Accessibility Issues

  1. Add Accessibility Tags to the document

    1. Using the Prepare for Accessibilty Tool > Automatically tag PDF

  2. Fix Tab Order

    1. Open Thumbnail View for the PDF pages using the toolbar on the right
    2. Select all pages
    3. Right Click and select page properties
    4. Select Use Document Structure

  3. Update the metadata by going to File > Document Properties

    1. Set Author Name: On the Description tab set the author name to "YOUR NAME - Andrew ID"
    2. Set Primary Language: On the Advanced tab, under Reading Options set the langauge.

  4. Check for Logical Reading Order

    1. Under the Prepare for Accessibility tool, Open the Fix Reading Order panel.
    2. The document should now show highlighted and numbered sections. These sections should be properly separated and numbered according to the logical order they should be read on the page. NOTE: Make sure the Page Content Groups > Page Content Order Options are selected.

  5. Fix Improperly Tagged Elements using the Reading Order tool

    1. Highlight the content you want to tag then click the proper tag using the reading order tool. You can use this guidance on using the tool if you get stuck. Be sure to pay attention to:
    2. Headings vs Content
    3. Tables vs Figures

  6. Add Alternative Text for Figures

    1. Using the Prepare for Accessibility Tool (Left Side), click Add alternate text

  7. Run the Check for Accessibility tool again to make sure you've addressed all issues.

  8. Save the PDF again, close it, and reopen it to double-check that your accessibility features have been saved.

  9. Turn in the Final PDF .

Submission

Submit the final PDF to Gradescope.