Document accessibility
Description
Accessible documents are built on clear structure and logical reading order. They include properly tagged headings, tables, images and metadata that enable assistive technologies to interpret and present content accurately.
Document accessibility also covers visual and cognitive design considerations – such as color contrast, font readability and alt text for images – to make content clear and inclusive for all users. For many organizations, document accessibility is not just a best practice but a legal requirement under global standards like WCAG 2.2, PDF/UA and the European Accessibility Act. By remediating existing documents and embedding accessibility into content creation workflows, enterprises can ensure compliance, consistency and broader access to their information.
Example use cases
- Corporate communications: Ensure annual reports, HR policies and investor materials are fully accessible.
- Public sector: Deliver accessible government forms, notices and digital publications.
- Life sciences: Provide compliant patient information and regulatory documents.
- Education: Create accessible course materials and student resources.
- Localization: Integrate document accessibility into multilingual and localized content workflows.
Key benefits
RWS perspective
At RWS, document accessibility is part of our broader mission to connect people and information – everywhere. Our experts combine human linguistic and formatting expertise with AI-enabled tools to create, audit and remediate accessible documents at scale.
We work with organizations to transform legacy documents and build accessibility directly into their authoring and publishing workflows. This integrated approach ensures that every document – whether a corporate report, user guide or multilingual manual – meets global accessibility standards while maintaining design integrity and brand consistency.