Ensure the following options are selected in the Accessibility Checker Options
Page Range – All pages in document
Checking Options – All options selected except for “Tables must have a summary”
Select Start Checking
Understanding an Accessibility Check
After running the Accessibility Check, the results will open on the left hand side of the screen. There are a number of items included in the accessibility check that are organized under seven sections. Each item in the accessibility check will say one of the following:
Passed
Failed
Needs manual check
The information below will provide context regarding what items are checked through the accessibility checker and what each item means.
This flag will allow individuals who use assistive technology, specifically screen readers, to bypass certain security settings so that the document can be read with the technology.
Image-only PDF
This refers to whether or not the document contains non-text content that is not accessible. Image-only PDFs often look accessible to the average user because the text is visible, but content within the document is an image instead of recognizable text content.
Tagged PDF
Tagging refers to the process of tagging all content in the document to specify the correct reading order. If this is shown as 'Failed', the document has not been appropriately tagged.
Logical Reading Order
This refers to the order in which the tagged content in the document is read aloud to assistive technology. The reading order of the document must be checked manually as there is no way for this to be automatically checked. The reading order displayed in the Tags panel should match with the logical reading order. This option will always flag as 'Need Manual Check' in the accessibility checker.
Primary language
The document must have an identified language. This allows assistive technology, specifically screen readers, to utilize the appropriate language. This becomes a part of the metadata for the document.
Title
The document must have a title. This becomes part of the metadata for the document.
Bookmarks
Bookmarks are essentially links within the document that allow you to easily navigate to a specific section within the document. When a document has more than 21 pages in length, it should have bookmarks that duplicate the document structure.
Color contrast
Color contrast refers to the contrast in color between content in the foreground and background of a screen. The color of content in the foreground should have enough contrast from the color of the background content that it can be easily identified and understood. The color contrast of the document must be checked manually as there is no way for this be automatically checked. This option will always flag in the accessibility checker.
All content within a document must be tagged and either included in the Tags panel or marked as an artifact. There are a number of different tags that can be applied to content.
Tagged annotations
All annotations must be tagged.
Tab order
Tab order must match the document structure.
Character encoding
Encoding must be specified to help technology present users with readable text. Some character encoding issues are not repairable within Adobe Acrobat.
Tagged multimedia
All multimedia objects must be tagged and either included in the Tags panel or marked as an artifact.
Screen flicker
Content that flashes or flickers must be within the allowable limits set forth in WCAG 2.0 AA. If content does not meet these guidelines, it must be either modified or removed from the document.
Scripts
Content cannot be script-dependent unless both content and functionality are accessible to assistive technologies. Ensure that scripting doesn't interfere with keyboard navigation or prevent the use of input devices. Scripts will need to be checked manually and either modified or removed.
Timed responses
This applies specifically to documents that contain forms with JavaScript. If this shows as 'Failed', any pages that have scripts that require timed responses, the scripts must either be edited or removed to allow users enough time to interact with the content.
Navigation links
Links must be active and appropriately tagged. Additionally, URLs should be renamed to give users context and meaning as to where the link will take them. Links should never be left in the raw hyperlink text format.
All images must either have alternative text or be marked as an artifact within the document.
Nested alternative text
Nested elements do not need alternative text as screen readers cannot access the alternative text for these elements. If this shows as 'Failed', remove the alternative text.
Associated with content
Alternative text must be associated with the content that it describes.
Hides annotation
Alternative text should not hide annotations. If this shows as 'Failed', an annotation is likely nested under a parent element that has associated alternative text. The alternative text should be removed from nested elements.
Other elements alternative text
The accessibility checker will check the content in the document to determine if there are other pieces of content aside from images that require alternative text.