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Section 508
compliance and PDF: Knocking down the myths
Myth
Number 1: PDF files are a lesser priority than HTML for compliance with Section
508 WRONG.
Most website accessibility efforts have focused on ensuring that HTML content
complies with the terms of the law. Other content, including PDF files, were produced
by someone else, and are "black boxes" to website administrators. Consequently,
PDF content is often simply overlooked - even though PDF files represent a huge
volume of the documents site visitors use everyday. Myth
Number 2: If a PDF file is compliant, it will read well in JAWS. WRONG.
Although most of the Federal Government is currently standardized on the JAWS
reader, this software is incapable of understanding all the table structure tags
that are available to PDF. Thus, it is possible to correctly tag a PDF to be compliant
with Section 508, and still deliver a negative experience to the JAWS, or other
assistive- technologies user. If a high level of functionality using the current
version of JAWS is required, the PDF structure must be "JAWS-optimized"
for best use with this software. Note that while a JAWS- optimized file may be
fully compliant with Section 508, it may not include advanced structure elements
that provide a greater degree of usability to other software. Myth
Number 3: Acrobat's Accessibility Checker can assist in ascertaining Section 508
compliance. WRONG.
Adobe Acrobat's Accessibility Checker provides some useful functions, but "failing"
the Checker cannot be taken to mean that a PDF file is not in compliance with
Section 508 - and "passing" the Checker cannot be taken to mean that
a file complies. For
example, the Checker will identify untagged images as violations - without discriminating
between "content" images that DO require alt. text versus "background"
images that do not, for example, repetitive logos, rule-lines and footer graphics. With
respect to the opposite problem, the Checker cannot assure that the file's text
reading order is correct. While the PDF's contents may be fully tagged, the checker
has no way of knowing how one column should follow another in the reading order,
or where to place a sidebar. About
the only thing the Accessibility Checker does get definitively right is that it
checks to see if a language has been declared for the document. Got
some files that don't comply? Leave it to the experts.
Legacy
Content Conversion: Generating citations, revenue and goodwill from your publication
history Duff
Johnson's latest article, "Legacy Content Conversion: Generating citations,
revenue and goodwill from your publication history" appears in the Summer,
2005 issue of Journal Publishing. The
article is intended to serve as a reference point for societies, associations,
journals, trade publications and libraries who are considering digitizing published
content. From
articulating needs to technology choices and business models, this article includes
original research, hard-won insights and many other details sure to enhance your
understanding of content digitization. Published
for the past 17 years, Journal
Publishing is the newsletter of Allen
Press, a leading printer and publishing services company based in Lawrence,
Kansas. Journal Publishing is distributed worldwide in hardcopy to over 12,000
individuals in academic societies, associations and libraries. In
the article, you'll find: - 3
case studies exploring various legacy conversion business models
- An
in-depth, real-world study of how legacy conversion can contribute to content
usage
- A
revealing look at how PDF fares vs. HTML when all other things are equal
- Top
5 reasons to digitize back issues
- 7
key indicators favoring legacy conversion
Download
your copy today! If you'd like one or more printed copies, let
us know, and we'll mail it out right away. Frequently
Asked Questions
Every
so often PDF News and Tips will include a few answers to Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ), addressing the issues we hear about most often.
What
is MultiResolution PDF? MultiResolution
PDF is the name Document Solutions gives to our highest-quality document imaging
process for documents including color or halftone graphics. MultiResolution Searchable
Image (MRSI) PDF files are the ultimate combination of crisp, black text, vibrant
color images and the lowest possible file- size. The MRSI process includes manual
fine-tuning of every page and every image for the very best possible reproduction.
The service is most popular with scientific and medical journals, where very high
quality images are a must. Learn more about MultiResolution
PDF. Can
Acrobat's Accessibility Checker tell me if my PDF file is compliant with Section
508? NO!
The Accessibility Checker in Adobe Acrobat 6.0 and 7.0 Professional does NOT check
for compliance with Section 508. This tool is intended as an aid to accessibility
workflows, little more. While it is capable of identifying missing alt. text and
a number of other failure-points in many PDF files, the software cannot provide
any assurance of compliance with Section 508. If it could, you can bet that Adobe
would say so. And they don't. Learn
more about Document Solutions' services for PDF accessibility and Section 508
compliance here. What
would you like addressed in the next FAQ? Drop us a line, and let
us know! | 
