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Re: PDF with multiple References to same Note

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From: Philip Kiff
Date: Jun 22, 2018 1:05PM

I've run into this issue a number of time before, Alan, and don't have a
good solution.

If forced to choose, I would go with your option (2), and just ignore
later instances of the footnote.

In cases where multiple instances of the same footnote appear within a
single table, I have instead placed the note after the end of the entire
table. Likewise if multiple instances of the same footnote appear within
a single paragraph.

But in your case, you have multiple references in multiple paragraphs,
and I don't know what the best practice is for that.

I will note that it is possible to edit a PDF and add content for screen
readers only without affecting the visual appearance. To do this, you
simply add white text (or use whatever colour matches the background
colour). Then you tag the content as text. Then edit the content order
and tag tree to place the tag/container into the correct location
directly after each additional instance of the reference number. Using
this technique, you could add multiple copies of the same footnote
without affecting the visual display. But it seems obvious to me that
this is a "hacky" and therefore provisional method of dealing with the
issue, and not one that should be a recommended practice.

Phil.

Philip Kiff
D4K Communications


On 2018-06-22 9:16 AM, Alan Zaitchik wrote:
> Any suggestions on the best practice for the following case?
>
> I have a 2 page PDF where there are multiple references in multiple paragraphs to the same footnote. Visually all the footnotes are collected at the end of the document. The references are on both pages of the document.
>
> The relevant standard for accessibility is the new HHS standard, but I cannot place the Note tag after the Reference tags in the reading order -- and I cannot place each after the paragraphs in which the Reference tag occurs since there are multiple such Reference tags for the same Note tag!
>
> From https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/making-files-accessible/pdf-required/index.html -- "Move the footnote text in the tag structure to either directly after the reference number, or directly after the paragraph that contains the reference number."
>
> I have no access to the original InDesign document, and I cannot edit the PDF (e.g. by creating multiple instances of the same footnotes) without destroying its appearance.
>
> What is the least annoying way to handle this for screen reader users?
>
> (1) Keep it the way it is.
> (2) Move (in the tag tree) each note tag to directly after the first reference to it.
> (3) Move (in the tag tree) each note tag to directly after the paragraph containing the first reference to it.
> (4) Something else?
>
> Thanks for suggestions!
>
> Alan
>
>
> > > >