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RE: Forms in non-HTML documents and Accessibility

for

From: sean keegan
Date: Nov 2, 2005 7:35PM


First, you need Adobe Acrobat Professional to create "fillable" form fields;
Standard will not work. If you create PDF forms using Adobe Designer 7.0,
then your users will be required to use Adobe Reader 7.

> 1. Is the fact that this form is not inherently "fillable"
> electronically an accessibility issue?

I see this as being a usability issue - how many people out there can read
other people's handwriting (or have easy access to typewriters)? With the
"fillable" forms, you can avoid the handwriting issue AND allow people to be
more independent in completing documents.

> 2. Is a form which is not electronically "fillable" that is posted in
> its native format on the Web (such as a Word or PDF form) out of
> compliance with Section 508?

Strictly speaking to conform to Section 508, 1194.22 (m), you need to
provide is a link to the applet/plug-in that conforms to 1194.21 (a) to (l).
1194.21, Paragraph (l) states:

<quote>
(l) When electronic forms are used, the form shall allow people using
assistive technology to access the information, field elements, and
functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including
all directions and cues. </quote>

However, if the form is not "fillable", it is really not an electronic form
- rather, it is just a document designed to look like a form (that requires
all users to print out to use). You would need to ensure all the text
information was accessible, though.

> 3. If the non-fillable form would not meet 508 criteria, how would you
> address accessibility in this situation?

If the form is mostly just text fields, then it is fairly easy with Acrobat
7 Professional to create an accessible/usable "fillable" PDF form. If there
are a lot of radio buttons or checkboxes, then it may take a bit longer. In
terms of workflow:

- create the Word document without any visual formatting for the form fields
(not underlining, etc.).
- create a tagged PDF document using the PDF Maker in MS Word (NOT
Distiller).
- Open Acrobat 7 Professional and use the Forms Toolbar to place the forms
in the appropriate place. Takes more time than HTML forms, but better than
the alternative.

take care,
sean

Sean Keegan
Web Accessibility Instructor
High Tech Center Training Unit for the
California Community Colleges
Cupertino, CA
408.996.6044