What does Section 508 mean for your PDFs?

Duff Johnson Planet PDF Contributing Editor

April 22, 2004

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Editor's Note: This article is part of the Accessible PDF Learning Center

Ensuring PDFs are compliant with Section 508 means enabling content for use by devices that suit the needs of a wide variety of disabled users.

It's not obvious how these requirements apply to PDF files. Here's a PDF-specific guide to the Section 508 regulations, as adapted from ? 1194.22 Web-based intranet and internet information and applications on the Section508.gov website.

(a) "A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided..."

PDF Translation: Must provide alternate text for every graphic image included in the PDF.

(b) "Equivalent[s] for any multimedia presentation..."

PDF Translation: Not applicable for the vast majority of documents., but if you use multilmedia, you'll need alternate text.

(c) "...all information conveyed with color is also available without color..."

PDF Translation: May require re-design of PDFs created from electronic source.

(d) "Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet."

PDF Translation: Treat low-contrast text (shaded areas) as image [see paragraph (a)], or remove shading.

(e) "...server-side image-maps."

PDF Translation: Not Applicable.

(f) Client-side image maps..."

PDF Translation: Applies if the PDF includes hyperlinks.

(g) "Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables."

PDF Translation: Comply via Tags or JavaScript

(h) "Markup shall be used ... for data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or column headers."

PDF Translation: Comply via Tags or JavaScript.

(i) "Frames shall be titled..."

PDF Translation: Not Applicable.

(j) "Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker..."

PDF Translation: Not Applicable.

(k) "A text-only page...shall be provided... when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way."

PDF Translation: An "escape" clause of sorts for pages with extremely complex content; best avoided.

(l) "When pages utilize scripting languages..."

PDF Translation: This is significant for PDFs containing JavaScript, notably when the JavaScript interacts with page-content or performs actions on buttons, fields and the like in order to deliver information to the user.

(m) "...page[s] must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with ?1194.21(a) through (l)."

PDF Translation: Pages containing links to PDF files must include a link to the Adobe Reader installer.

(n) "... electronic forms ... shall allow people using assistive technology to access the ... functionality required for completion and submission..."

PDF Translation: PDF forms must be tab-ordered correctly, all fields should be properly labeled and field-values must be made explicit in terms of their meaning. If calculations or scripts are operating, providing feedback or other information, such information must be made available to assistive-technology users.

(o) "A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links."

PDF Translation: This almost never occurs in PDF, but if you develop some exotic PDF with repetitive text-links, you'll need to pay attention.

(p) "When a timed response is required, the user shall be alerted..."

PDF Translation: Doesn't apply, unless the PDF contains JavaScript that utilizes timed response.

Wondering where to focus?

Here's a simple guide to the regulation's clauses in terms of the work they require in PDF remediation:

• (a), (c), (g), (h), (l), (n) -- The bulk of the work
• (b), (k) -- Infrequent or readily avoidable issue
• (d), (f), (m) -- No problem, easily addressed
• (e), (i), (j), (0), (p) -- Not applicable in PDF at all