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Inspiring
July 12, 2017
Answered

convert PDF to html for screen reader

  • July 12, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 2914 views

A variety of websites I've recently visited suggest that Adobe offers free software which will convert PDFs to html so that they can be used with screen reader technology for the visually impaired. They don't specify the name of that software. I'm guessing it might be Adobe Reader, but I can't see any way of doing this task with it. Can anyone enlighten me?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Test Screen Name

Actually, like a lot of misinformation, there is a germ of truth. At one time Adobe offered "access.adobe.com" - a web site with an ONLINE converter for accessibility. Not something that could be downloaded but of course its results could. 10 years ago it was still around but you had to answer a questionnaire about why you weren't able to use Reader. By 2010 it was gone.

2 replies

Legend
July 13, 2017

I think the wording might be based on a misunderstanding. Acrobat Reader certainly supports screen reading technology: a huge amount of work has been done on this (though its success depends on the document creator doing work). Perhaps the author wrongly assumed that screen readers all work by stuff converting to HTML. Then it only takes one person quoting a mistake with confidence and you'll find it all over the web. I looked at a couple of sites quoting this and they seem blissfully unaware that accessible PDF even exists.

emmaTPR12Author
Inspiring
July 13, 2017

hmm, maybe yeah. with that particular statement though (on the link I've provided), it's really specific about what the tool can do, like they know about it. I've emailed that website to ask them to clarify. so we definitely don't think it's a real thing?

Bernd Alheit
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 12, 2017

There is no such free software from Adobe.

emmaTPR12Author
Inspiring
July 12, 2017

Wow, I've seen it on multiple sites. So this statement is completely wrong? It seems very specific.

Bernd Alheit
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 12, 2017

Where on www.adobe.com have you seen this?