Step by Step Guide to Section 508 Compliant PDFs

Illustrated Processes, Steps, and Examples of Section 508 Compliance from Word Documents to PDFs

The Step By Step Guide to Section 508 Compliant PDFs is for the writers, editors, illustrators, managers, and content developers tasked with 508 compliance.  It is NOT a legal guide to 508, nor is it a programmers’ reference manual.

It is a step-by-step guide with illustrated processes (LOTS of screenshots), steps (how to), and examples of section 508 compliance from Word documents to PDFs

So, why the Step By Step Guide to Section 508 Compliant PDFs?

Because web and media related 508 guidance for techies is readily available, but plain English 508 guidance for nontechies…for those of us using Word and creating PDFs, is just not easy to find.

508 for Web vs 508 for PDFs:

In a nutshell, Section 508 says that government materials should be accessible to people with visual, auditory, or physical disabilities.  That includes electronic and information technology like web sites, documentation, and other media.

For techies - programmers, developers, coders, etc. – Section 508 Compliance is just another set of parameters.  In fact, loads of information and resources are available on web and other code-based materials.  For techies, details about tags, fields, and alt text are just steps to add on the “To Do” list.

PDFs, however, are generally created from source files like Word, PowerPoint, and other documentation tools.  For us, the writers, editors, illustrators, and other content creators, we also need to add 508 compliance steps on the “To Do” list, but we need examples and illustrations to SHOW us the steps we need to add. 

We can follow a process, test, and even write the Alt Text (text displayed for images and other objects for accessibility purposes) BETTER than most programmers…who generally don’t like to write, anyway.

For the nontechies, the content creators on the 508 compliance team, we need a Step By Step Guide to Section 508 Compliant PDFs.  We need a documented process that can be duplicated and produce positive, passing results

We don’t need to know the legal details.

We don’t need to know HOW the code or software works.

We DO need to know the basic expectations, terminology, and steps required.

This is why the Step By Step Guide to Section 508 Compliant PDFs exists.

Included Topics (as taken from the Table of Contents):

What is Section 508 Compliance?

Section 508 Compliance in Plain English

Section 508 Legislation

Section 508 Compliance Resources

Why Just PDFs?

Why Step-By-Step?

Section 508 Compliance Team

Prepare the Word Document

Proper Use of Headings and Other Styles in Word

Table of Contents

Images

Tagging Images in Word

Tagging Floating Images in Word

Animations

Tables

Merged Cells

Images in Tables

Text Boxes

Alt Text

Reading Order

Create the PDF

Primary Method

Opening the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and Initial Configuration

How to Run a Compliance Test in Adobe Acrobat

Full Check

Error on Full Check

Accessibility Report

Inaccessible Page Content Error

Order Panel and Reading Order

Additional Troubleshooting and Configuration Procedures

Inserting a Blank Page

Inserting a Legend, Copyright, or Other Multiuse Element

Inserting a Chapter

Troubleshooting Sidebars

Troubleshooting Bullets

PowerPoint Slides and Bordered Images

Additional 508 Compliance Resources

Contacting the Author

Additional Online Resources

Other Section 508 Books and Publications

Get your copy of The Step By Step Guide to Section 508 Compliant PDFs today or visit Section508CompliantPDFs (dot) com for other formats (PDF) and/or multiple copies.