Accessible Documents

Documents are essential for communication, but too often, they’re inaccessible to people with disabilities.

At ExceedAbility, we specialise in creating and remediating documents to meet accessibility standards. Whether it’s a PDF, Word document, or presentation, we ensure your content is structured and tagged correctly so everyone can access it. Accessible documents are not just a best practice—they’re a necessity in today’s inclusive workplace.

A man in a wheelchair wearing headphones, smiling while interacting with an accessible document displayed on a tablet.
An individual enjoying the ease of an accessible document, showcasing the power of inclusive digital formats for all users.

Ensuring your documents are accessible is crucial for inclusivity and compliance with standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. At Exceed Ability, we specialise in creating and remediating documents—including PDFs, Word files, and presentations—to meet these accessibility standards. Our services ensure your content is structured and tagged correctly, making it accessible to all users.

Common Best Practices for Accessible Documents

  • Use of Headings: Employ a logical heading structure to facilitate navigation for screen readers and improve document clarity.
  • Alternative Text for Images: Provide descriptive alt text for images to convey information to users who cannot see visual content.
  • Table Structure: Utilise tables solely for data presentation, ensuring they have clear headers and avoid using them for layout purposes.
  • Hyperlink Text: Use meaningful hyperlink text that clearly indicates the destination or purpose of the link.
  • Document Language Specification: Define the document’s language to assist screen readers in accurately interpreting the text.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Inadequate Colour Contrast: Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background to aid users with visual impairments.
  • Missing Alt Text for Images: Omitting alternative text can leave users relying on screen readers without crucial information.
  • Improper Table Usage: Using tables for layout rather than data can confuse assistive technologies, leading to misinterpretation.
  • Unclear Link Text: Links like “click here” are ambiguous; instead, use descriptive text that conveys the link’s purpose.
  • Undefined Document Language: Failing to set the document’s language can hinder screen readers from correctly interpreting the content.

For Example
Raj works for a government agency and frequently shares PDF reports with the public. After receiving feedback that some users couldn’t access the information, he engaged ExceedAbility. We helped remediate the documents, making them fully accessible and ensuring the agency could communicate effectively with everyone.

Make your documents accessible to all. Contact us today for expert assistance with document remediation and compliance.