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Hello Adobe,
My question to you is if I need to create an accessibile document for my fellow friends who use screen readers such as I do; how can I do this for free?
I do not have the funds to purchase a month subscription but I would love to be able to create documents that my friends could then review through their screen reader accessible programs. I have noticed all I can do for free is create a title and a tag on the save file. I cannot create a root tag tree, or ensure headings are at the correct level, or even create links that will be picked up by their screen readers.
I understand others should pay for your tool but I wonder if there is a way it could be free to CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) clients?
How can I create an accessible pdf document so not only my friends can use their screen readers but myself?
Signed a fellow student, advocate, and community member of the Deaf/Blind Community.
Why Assistive Technology Matters to Me: Jaclyn Pope - AdaptiVision (lowvisionsource.com)
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Adobe are not the only people making PDF software; their business model is commercial. There are other tools. Some much more expensive, some presumably less. You can also make accessible PDF directly from Word (which, I know, isn't free either). Good luck with your task.
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Hi Jaclyn @Jaclyn25458020esug,
There really are only 2 software companies that have put R & D money into making accessible programs and export utilities that create accessible PDFs from those programs. They are Microsoft and Adobe. OK, I'll add in FoxIt, somewhat, because they create Word's built-in export utility to create accessible PDFs, and it now does a decent job. Not as good as Adobe's export utility — called PDF Maker — but good enough to work for typical office documents.
You have 2 ways to make accessible documents:
Some insights I'd like to share:
Regarding your question, /Quote "I understand others should pay for your tool but I wonder if there is a way it could be free to CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) clients?" /EndQuote.
That's something CNIB would have to negotiate directly with Microsoft and Adobe, and maybe with JAWS and other assistive technology manufacturers.
Maybe you can lobby CNIB to do this for their members?
There are 2 models I know that provide discounted software to certain populations: the academic software industry, and a nonprofit in the US that distributes software licenses to other nonprofits. In both settings, the recipient must be vetted and verified as either a bonifide nonprofit that works for the public good, or is a student or staff member at an accredited institution of education (k through university / college).
Vetting is a big issue with these models: for example, I'm a member of NFB here in the US and could easily pay the membership fee and become a CNIB member, too. But I'm fully sighted and my only disability at this time is a pair of creaky knees. Being a member really doesn't qualify me for cheap or free software.
And let's not forget that accessibility is for the entire population, whether they are sight-impaired or not. So how would a program like this be available to those with mobility disabilities, hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive disabilities, etc.?
Nice conversion. Thanks for bringing it up, Jaclyn.
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Great reply, thank you.