An accessible PDF is a document that's designed to be easily navigable and comprehensible for all users.
We recommend following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to help you make your document more accessible. Here are some basic guidelines for you to consider in your document while using the Workiva platform.
Export to PDF
When exporting Workiva document to PDF, check the Tag for Web Accessibility box in the PDF options list. This does not necessarily ensure complete compliance, but it'll remove a significant amount of manual effort and intervention needed for adding accessibility tags to a PDF. We recommend you to review and customize the tagging to ensure the level of compliance.
Workiva can save you tagging time and effort and we're committed to continuing to improve accessible outputs, but please review your work to ensure the output meets regulatory requirements. Learn more on how to export to PDF.
Note: The Tag for Web Accessibility option is only available for PDF exports of Workiva documents.
PDF accessibility tags
PDFs need to have complex tags to be accessible. This includes multiple heading levels, list tags, table of contents, etc. to be fully WCAG 2.1 AA compliant.
Headings
Accessibility heading levels can be assigned using the style guide in Workiva. For paragraph styles with a style type of Heading, the Style Editor will allow you to specify a heading mapping of H1-H6. Setting the Map heading ensures that the appropriate tags are applied throughout your document on export.
Body text and lists
The text in your document that's identified as paragraph text will be tagged with the paragraph structure element and lists will have list structure elements tagged (lists, list items, list labels, list body).
Tables
Table structure element tags, including table header, table rows, and table data are added to tables. Generally the first row of the table is tagged as a table header, but more rows can be identified as part of the header when a header spans multiple rows and the number of header rows is selected in Table properties. More complex structured tables will need further review on export and may require changes to tag structure.
When using the automated table of contents feature in Workiva, table of contents and table of contents item structure tags will also be applied. A table of contents that is manually created will be tagged as a general table.
Alternative text
Alternative text can be applied to images, charts and tables to give context to these objects for screen readers. Using the Object properties panel in Workiva, alternative text may be entered for these objects or they can be marked as decorative. Using these properties will reduce any rework necessary between exported versions of a tagged PDF.
Color contrast
All colors must pass the WCAG accessibility test. As you format your document, keep track of this. PDF exports keep your exact color selections.
Charts
Charts need to accommodate some graphic configurations to be more accessible. (Specifically, white lines separating elements on a stacked bar or a donut chart.) You can achieve this by adding a white border to the slices or bars. To learn more on how to add chart borders, see Customize chart appearance.