Extreme Makeover: PDF Edition

Inaccessible PDFs (files in portable document format) can be a barrier for individuals with disabilities.  Fortunately, there are many ways to remedy this problem. During the Extreme Makeover: PDF Edition we will go week by week and look at different ways to address this problem in order to help make our web pages more accessible.

Registration

Please register by September 14, 2020.

Schedule

Week 1 – Current PDFs (9/21/20 – 9/27/20)

Participants will receive a list of all of the PDFs on their website, or receive information on how to generate that list on their own.  Participants will be asked to go through their list and remove from the site any PDFs that are outdated or unnecessarily redundant. Participants will also identify which of their PDFs can be converted to web pages or web forms.

Week 2 – PDF to Web Page Conversion (9/28/20 – 10/4/20)

Participants will learn the benefits of converting (when possible) inaccessible PDFs to accessible web pages. Participants will receive information on how to create accessible web pages.

NOTE: Participants are HIGHLY encouraged to utilize the OIT Design & Web Services WordPress Office Hours on Fridays from 9 am – 12pm via Zoom.

Week 3 – PDF to Web Form Conversion (10/5/20 – 10/11/20)

Participants will learn the benefits of converting (when possible) inaccessible PDF forms to accessible web forms. Participants will receive information on how to create accessible web forms.

Week 4 – PDF Accessibility Review (10/12/20 – 10/16/20)

Participants will learn how to evaluate their remaining PDFs for accessibility and how to make them accessible.  In-person and online training on this topic will be available.

Participants will also be given information about vendors that their departments can hire to make their PDFs accessible if they do not have the in-house resources to do so.

Event Conclusion

Participants will share their updated spreadsheet of PDFs, noting which PDFs have been removed, converted or made accessible.  Each group that actively participates will receive a certificate of recognition from the University IT Accessibility Coordinator.

Questions?

Please contact the University IT Accessibility Coordinator: