Get Your Free PDF Remediation Checklist
Download NowEnsuring your digital content is accessible is both a legal and ethical requirement. Most organisations understand the importance of website accessibility. However, despite being widely used for reports, forms, and essential information, PDFs are often overlooked.
The Recite Me PDF Accessibility Checker helps organisations identify and fix accessibility issues at scale.
An overview of the Recite Me PDF Accessibility Checker
The Recite Me PDF Accessibility Checker scans, analyses, and remediates inaccessible PDF documents quickly and efficiently. It identifies common accessibility barriers that prevent users with disabilities from accessing content. Common examples include missing tags, incorrect reading order, and poor document structure.
Unlike manual auditing processes, which can be time-consuming and inconsistent, Recite Me’s checker automates large parts of the process, enabling you to scan multiple documents at once and prioritise issues.
It’s one of the most effective ways to ensure PDFs are usable with assistive technologies such as screen readers while aligning with globally recognised standards.
Accessibility standards that the tool checks against
The Recite Me PDF Accessibility Checker evaluates documents against widely accepted accessibility standards:
- WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): While originally designed for web content, WCAG’s core principles (making content perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust) also apply to PDFs.
- PDF/UA (PDF Universal Accessibility): The international standard for accessible PDF documents, PDF/UA focuses on ensuring documents are fully tagged, correctly structured, and compatible with assistive technologies.
Together, these standards set the benchmark for accessible PDF content.
Scan your website to locate every PDF in one place and instantly see how many do not meet accessibility standards. You will also receive one of your website’s PDFs fully remediated, so you can see the impact in action.
Accessibility laws supported by the Recite Me PDF Accessibility Checker
The Recite Me PDF Accessibility Checker helps organisations meet document accessibility requirements under a range of accessibility laws and regulations:
- Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations (UK): PDFs are a common source of non-compliance, particularly when documents are incorrectly structured.
- European Accessibility Act (EAA): The EAA covers digital products and services across the EU, and PDF accessibility is a key component of compliance.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Inaccessible PDFs often equate to an inaccessible website, increasing the risk of legal action.
- Section 508 (US): Federal agencies must make all electronic content accessible to people with disabilities to meet the accessibility standards.
- Accessible Canada Act (ACA): Federally regulated organisations must identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers.
Here’s the reality: If your PDFs are inaccessible, your compliance position is weaker, no matter where your organisation is based and how accessible the rest of your digital estate may be.
Does the Recite Me PDF Remediation Tool guarantee compliance?
The Recite Me PDF Remediation tool can guarantee compliance for the PDF files it has remediated. However, it’s important to understand that accessibility compliance extends beyond individual documents.
Most legislation requires organisations to ensure their entire digital ecosystem is accessible. This includes:
- Websites
- Mobile applications
- Online forms and application processes
- Customer portals and dashboards
- eCommerce platforms and checkout journeys
- Emails and digital communications
- Multimedia content (e.g., videos and audio)
- Third-party tools and integrations
In other words, while the tool can help ensure your PDFs meet accessibility standards, full compliance typically requires a broader accessibility strategy.
Key benefits of using a PDF Accessibility Checker for compliance
Using a PDF accessibility checker offers several practical advantages for organisations working toward compliance:
- Speed and scale: Automated remediation enables teams to process documents efficiently, reducing backlog and accelerating compliance.
- Reduced legal risk: By identifying and resolving accessibility issues early, you reduce exposure to complaints, fines, and the reputational damage.
- Improved user experience: Accessible PDFs are easier to navigate and understand for all users, not just those with disabilities.
- Consistency across documents: Standardised workflows ensure accessibility improvements are applied across all documents, not just individual files.
- Future-proofing your content: As accessibility regulations continue to evolve, using a PDF accessibility checker helps you align with requirements.
Put simply, PDF accessibility checkers turn compliance from a manual challenge into a controlled, repeatable process. This is especially true for organisations managing large volumes of documents.
Improve the accessibility of your website’s official documents with our free PDF remediation checklist. It guides you through clear steps to identify and address common accessibility barriers, to align with global accessibility standards.
Start closing your accessibility compliance gaps today
Accessible PDFs are a critical but often overlooked part of digital compliance. As regulations tighten and expectations grow, using a PDF accessibility checker is essential for reducing risk, improving usability, and taking a proactive approach to accessibility.
The Recite Me PDF Accessibility Checker provides a scalable, efficient way to identify and fix accessibility issues, helping you align with WCAG and PDF/UA standards while also supporting compliance with wider global legislation.
Ready to get started? Run a free scan today or book a demo to learn more and explore how to scale PDF accessibility across your digital landscape.
Recite Me PDF Accessibility Checker for compliance FAQs
Looking for a recap or quick summary? Here are a few of our most frequently asked questions to help you get to grips with the essentials:
What is a PDF accessibility checker?
A PDF accessibility checker is a tool that scans documents to identify barriers that may prevent users with disabilities from accessing content. It highlights issues such as missing tags, incorrect reading order, and poor structure.
Why are accessible PDFs important for compliance?
Inaccessible PDFs limit access for users with disabilities. Plus, many accessibility laws require all digital content (not just websites!) to be accessible.
Can the Recite Me tool fix PDF accessibility issues automatically?
The tool can automate much of the detection and remediation process. However, some documents may still require review to ensure full accuracy.
Does making PDFs accessible guarantee legal compliance?
No. While accessible PDFs are an important part of compliance, you must also ensure that your websites, applications, and other digital services meet the necessary requirements.
How quickly can I improve my PDFs using a PDF accessibility checker?
Timelines vary depending on the volume and complexity of your PDFs, but automated tools significantly reduce the time required to audit and remediate documents compared to using manual methods.
Check out our Products & Services
Ready to take your first steps towards digital accessibility compliance? Then see how we can support your journey with our accessibility solutions:
Web Accessibility Checker
Scan, detect, fix, and maintain accessibility compliance standards on your website.
Assistive Toolbar
Make your website an inclusive and customisable experience for people with disabilities.
PDF Accessibility Checker
Check your PDFs are compliant with accessibility standards and run automated fixes.
