PDFs Or Fliers

PDFs are a great way to get a large amount of information in one place, however they are originally intended to be printed into a physical copy, not shared digitally.

Sharing a PDF or flier digitally creates many challenges for numerous audiences. While it is often thought that this is the most effective way to get information out, that is unfortunately not the case.

Fliers/PDFs Create Challenges

Aside from these challenges, fliers also create issues such as:

Creating an Accessible PDF Is Not Easy…

It is also important to note that creating an accessible PDF is extremely difficult as it needs to include:

1. Proper Structure & Tagging:
   • Define Structures such as headings, paragraphs, lists, tables..etc.
   • Headings must follow a logical hierarchy, and reading order must match the visual order of the document.
2. Text & Fonts:
   • All text must be selectable and readable.
   • Fonts must be embedded to ensure consistent display.
   • Significant color contrast between text and background.
3. Images and Non-Text Content:
   • Images must have alternative text describing its purpose.
   • Decorative images (graphics) should be marked as artifacts so screen readers can skip them.
4. Links & Navigation:
   • Hyperlinks must be descriptive.
   • Must include bookmarks for longer documents to help with navigation.
   • Page numbers in the document should match logical page numbers.
5. Tables & Charts:
   • Must use header rows and proper tags to define relationships between data cells.
   • Avoid merged or split cells if possible.
   • Complex charts should include text descriptions or data summaries.
6. Language and Metadata:
   • Specify the document language (E.g. English) in the PDF Properties
   • Include a document title in metadata.
7. Keyboard and Assistive Navigation:
   • All interactive elements (like forms or buttons) must be keyboard accessible.
   • Tab order must follow a logical sequence.
8. Color and Visual Design:
   • Don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning (In red you will see…)
   • Use patterns, shapes, or labels in addition to colors.
9. Testing:
   • Use accessibility checkers
   • Then manually test with a screen reader to confirm usability.

Solution

The simplest solution is to step away from creating PDFs or fliers to share information digitally. As mentioned earlier, Fliers are a great way to share information when printed out and used for their intended purpose.

Creating Appealing Accessible Digital Content

Content can still look good, and meet accessibility standards! While we often think that fliers are the most appealing and effective way to share information, that could not be further from the truth. In order to truly capture individuals attention, and meet accessibility, we encourage staff to create an engaging graphic similar to a billboard with just a highlight of text on it and an engaging design, or image. This will in turn be easier to add Alt Text to the graphic, grab the attention, and maintain a user friendly experience.



Example of Image Alt Text Caption:
Several students sitting at a table working in art class. Text on image reads: No School Tuesday, November 4.