The Danish Parliament has passed a new law concerning web accessibility. The law states that websites and apps from all public authorities must be accessible to all citizens \u2013 also disabled citizens, for instance those with a visual impairment, speech impairment, hearing impairment or learning disability. And it all has to be accessible by 23 September 2019. This also applies for documents and PDFs, that are present at the public websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you unsure as to how to make your PDFs accessible, then we now how. We already have huge experience incorporating the principles of accessibility into our design and layout of products for your public clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can help make your existing publications and other PDFs accessible, or we can help make new materiale accessible \u2013 we jump in wherever you need us \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PDFs published after 23 September 2018 have to be accessible. If you have PDFs that have been published before this date, you only need to make them accessible, if they are characterised as \u201cnecessary for active administrative processes\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accessible PDFs allow all users to read and navigate your documents and fill out forms \u2013 no matter for instance reading abilities and visual impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This allows for your messages to reach a wider audience, and it offers people with disabilities the same options as other users regarding being digitally self-reliant and informed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are four overall principles in making something accessible: Is has to be 1) Perceivable, 2) Operable, 3) Understandable and 4) Robust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These principles mean that you for instance have to pay attention to the following elements in your PDF:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is an important topic, and you need to think about both existing PDFs and new publications and PDFs you develop yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, it\u2019s important to respect the law. Furthermore, your publications and therefore you messages will reach a wider audience if your material is accessible. And citizens will be more self-reliant, once the material is more user-friendly, which should both ensure user satisfaction and minimise the need for personal service from public companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n