WCBVI Assistive Tech and Accessibility Resources - Accessibility Resources for Mainstream Software and Programs

Accessibility Resources for Mainstream Software and Programs

Accessing PDFs using Assistive Technology

General Recommendations Regarding PDFs

Accessing PDFs, whether accessible PDFs or inaccessible documents, can be challenging. Below are some general recommendations for anyone using assistive technology to access a PDF:

For best results, download the PDF and open in a PDF reader such as Adobe. Microsoft Edge is also a good option, as is Chrome.
If using a dedicated PDF reader (such as Adobe or Foxit) configure it for use with assistive technology. Check their user guide for instructions on how to do this. If this information is not available in the user guide, it is likely that PDF reader will not be fully accessible.
Accessible PDFs are only as good as the reader being used to access them. If the reader itself is not built to work with a screen reader, the user will not be able to read the file regardless of whether the document meets accessibility guidelines.
If the PDF is not readable in one PDF reader, try another one if possible. At times, some PDF readers work better than others under different circumstances. Using Microsoft Edge or Chrome will work, but at times having to navigate the menu area can be a frustration.
When using a browser to open PDFs, consider using one that is not the browser being used for the majority of tasks. For example, if Safari is the browser used for most internet access, consider using Chrome or another browser to read the document.

Resources on General PDF Access

Resources from Adobe

Using Features of Assistive Technology to Access Inaccessible Documents

There are many ways to use OCR in JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver to read a document that either has not been correctly tagged or falls short of meeting document accessibility standards. However, this does NOT mean that entities, agencies, or businesses should not create their PDFs to be fully accessible and compliant. They are still legally and ethically responsible to do so. For more information on this topic, please see the resource below.

Section508.gov: IT Accessibility Laws and Policies

Accessing Inaccessible Documents with JAWS

Using Windows OCR and NVDA

NVDA leverages the built-in OCR capabilities of Windows to assist with processing image-based content. Please see the links below to learn more. In addition, there are some add-ons available in the NVDA Add-On Store that bring OCR functionality into NVDA, however compatibility with the current version varies. Users are encouraged to visit the store site (linked below). Please note that it is recommended to only download and install stable add-ons from NVDA as these have been tested and are securely stored.

Google Workspace Accessibility

Note: The resources here are curated for those using a browser to interact with Google Workspace. For information on using Chromebooks or ChromeVox to access Google Workspace, please visit the following sections of this website:

Microsoft 365 and Windows Accessibility

Note: The resources here are curated for those using Windows or Microsoft applications. For information specific to use of screen readers, screen magnification, or customizing a computer for low vision users, please see the following sections of this website:

General Microsoft and Windows Accessibility

Since apps on the Mac are built using Apple's native frameworks, which have accessibility features deeply integrated, they work well without the need for third-party software (i.e. JAWS or NVDA). This ensures consistent and reliable screen reader support as applications and operating systems are updated. Additional guides are not generally needed, but Apple does include information in the applications' user guide for those who are utilizing VoiceOver. These are linked below as well as other resources that may be helpful.