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  3. PDFs and documents

PDFs and documents

It is important to avoid using PDFs and documents to relay content online as much as possible, instead adding this content to a webpage.

While PDFs and Word documents can be good for printing, they’re usually poor for accessibility in comparison to good web content. They are also difficult to read when viewing a webpage on a phone or smaller screen. 

 

Ensuring your PDFs and documents are accessible

If you do need to add a PDF or document to a webpage, it must be accessible. If it is not, we are in breach of accessibility regulations and may be fined. An accessible PDF or document must have, among other things - 

  • Clearly formatted headings (not just bold or underlined text)
  • Searchable text
  • Alternative text where images have been added
  • Document structural tags

You can find out more about these things, and how to add them, using Adobe’s PDF Accessibility Overview.

You can also refer to this document from the Disability and Dyslexia Service:

Guidelines for inclusive writing and formatting of documents and presentations [PDF 595KB]

 

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