Assess Reading Order

When you create a PDF, the structure of your original document is carried over in the PDF as tags (labels) that identify each component you have created in your document.  The way that you order your document is the order that will be read by a screen reader such as JAWS.  This section address the various ways you can assess the reading order of your document in order to know what parts of it need to be made accessible.  You will learn to repair these elements in the next section of this training.

The following tutorials will guide you through all 4 methods of checking the reading order of your document by using Adobe Acrobat Tools to see your reading order and Assistive Technology software in order to hear your document.

1. Review Reading Order in Tags Panel

2. Review Reading Order in Order Panel

3. Export/Save As Text Accessible

4. Assistive Technology to Check Reading Order

Please view the following video tutorial for a more indepth introduction to this area.

Video Tutorial - An Introduction to Assessing Reading Order (2:47)

Credits

  • This training has been funded in part by the EnACT (Ensuring Access through Collaboration and Technology) grant. 
  • Written and developed by Sacramento State Online Learning professionals, Monica Range and Cryssel Vera and technical crew, Ivan Vajar, Ken Young, and Jennifer Wicks with guidance from the CSU Professional Development Work Group.

Support

If you have difficulty accessing any material on this site or need an alternate format, or you just have questions and want to give feedback, contact Jean Wells, the producer of this training.

Copyright, 2009, All Right Reserved

 

© 2009 California State University
Concept and design by the Center for Distributed Learning