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Re: PDF Accessibility

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From: Hull, Larry G. (GSFC-750.0)[GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER]
Date: Jan 19, 2010 12:57PM

Hi Geof,

You are correct. I had assumed a PDF document on PDF Accessibility would be assessable. Bad assumption. The document isn't even tagged.

There is an HTML version generated by Google that seems somewhat assessable. There is an in page link to the checklist but I'm not sure the focus changes. When I tab I go back to the beginning of the HTML version of the document. Below is both the long URL to the HTML version and a text copy of the checklist.

The long URL is

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:aoBSkjk_dn4J:www.usa.gov/webcontent/documents/ssa/SSA_Guide_to_Accessible_PDF_Documents_and_Forms.pdf+assessible+pdf+checklist&;cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

The following is a text copy of the checklist found in the document.

Accessible PDF Checklist

All or most of the responses to these checklist items should be "Yes" or "N/A"(not applicable). If a "No" response is used, the item should be addressed in an alternate fashion which renders the document accessible.

Test Condition Yes/No
1. Bookmarks link to the appropriate destination.
2. Bookmarks are nested properly.
3. Bookmarks are labeled properly.
4. All comments have been deleted.
5. Document language has been defined.
6. Foreign words or phrases have language definitions.
7. Tab order is logical.
8. There are no character mapping problems; or a workaround,
such as alt text or artifacts, has been applied.
9. All elements are contained within the tag tree.
10. Read order is logical.
11. Reflow is logical.
12. Alternate text is used appropriately.
13. Elements which should be ignored by a screen reader have been
marked as artifacts.
14. Empty tags have been deleted.
15. Tables are marked up properly, using TH for column and row headings;
or a workaround, such as descriptive text, has been applied.
16. Hyperlinks are active.
17. Hyperlinks link to the appropriate destination.
18. Hyperlink text is descriptive of its destination.
19. The initial view has been set to open the Bookmarks tab.
20. The user's magnification settings have not been overridden, unless
there is a strong reason to do so.
21. All text is readable in each of Acrobat's high-contrast color combinations.
22. Abbreviations have alternate text applied, if necessary.
23. Information conveyed solely with color is available in another way,
such as alternate text.
24. Adequate structure has been applied to the document.
25. The Accessibility Full Check returns no warnings.
26. A screen reader has been used to validate that the document makes sense
when read aloud.

Larry