---
title: Top 5 Mistakes in Accessible PDF Creation (And How to Avoid Them)
description: Learn the top 5 mistakes in accessible PDF creation and how to avoid them. Make your documents WCAG-compliant with help from Meet Aandi.
image: https://meetaandi.com/hubfs/3.png
---

[Skip to content](https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-pdf-creation-mistakes#main-content)

[![](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MeetAandi-Logo-web.png?width=248&height=50&name=MeetAandi-Logo-web.png)](https://meetaandi.com)

- Products
  
  Show submenu for Products 
  
    - [Video Accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/video-accessibility)
    - [Document Accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/document-accessibility)
    - [Coach Aandi](https://meetaandi.com/coach-aandi-feb-2026)
    - [Accessible Design](https://meetaandi.com/writing-and-designing-for-accessibility)
    - [Accessibility Training](https://meetaandi.com/accessibility-training)
    - [DE&I Consulting](https://meetaandi.com/dei-consulting)
    - [Music Accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/music-accessibility)
- Video Tool
  
  Show submenu for Video Tool 
  
    - [Upload video](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#uploadVideos)
    - [Manage videos](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#manageVideos)
- [Pricing](https://meetaandi.com/price-guide)
  
  Show submenu for Pricing 
  
    - [Legacy Documents](https://meetaandi.com/legacy-packages-v1)
    - [Government Glow-up](https://meetaandi.com/government-glow-up)
    - [Access for Every Brain](https://meetaandi.com/access-for-every-brain)
- [About](https://meetaandi.com/about)
- [Blog](https://meetaandi.com/blog)
- [Login](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#login)
- Profile
  
  Show submenu for Profile 
  
    - [Manage Credits](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#credits)
    - [Logout](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#logout)
- Admin
  
  Show submenu for Admin 
  
    - [Inbox](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#inbox)
    - [Manage Blog](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#adminBlog)
    - [Manage Credits](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#adminCredits)
    - [Dashboard](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#adminDashboardMain)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- Products
  
  Show submenu for Products 
  
    - [Video Accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/video-accessibility)
    - [Document Accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/document-accessibility)
    - [Coach Aandi](https://meetaandi.com/coach-aandi-feb-2026)
    - [Accessible Design](https://meetaandi.com/writing-and-designing-for-accessibility)
    - [Accessibility Training](https://meetaandi.com/accessibility-training)
    - [DE&I Consulting](https://meetaandi.com/dei-consulting)
    - [Music Accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/music-accessibility)
- Video Tool
  
  Show submenu for Video Tool 
  
    - [Upload video](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#uploadVideos)
    - [Manage videos](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#manageVideos)
- [Pricing](https://meetaandi.com/price-guide)
  
  Show submenu for Pricing 
  
    - [Legacy Documents](https://meetaandi.com/legacy-packages-v1)
    - [Government Glow-up](https://meetaandi.com/government-glow-up)
    - [Access for Every Brain](https://meetaandi.com/access-for-every-brain)
- [About](https://meetaandi.com/about)
- [Blog](https://meetaandi.com/blog)
- [Login](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#login)
- Profile
  
  Show submenu for Profile 
  
    - [Manage Credits](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#credits)
    - [Logout](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#logout)
- Admin
  
  Show submenu for Admin 
  
    - [Inbox](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#inbox)
    - [Manage Blog](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#adminBlog)
    - [Manage Credits](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#adminCredits)
    - [Dashboard](https://www.meetaandi.com/video-tool?#adminDashboardMain)
- [Contact us](https://meetaandi.com/contact-us)

[Contact us](https://meetaandi.com/contact-us)

 May 29, 2025, 8:08:40 PM

# Top 5 Mistakes in Accessible PDF Creation (And How to Avoid Them)

![Picture of Meet Aandi](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Licquorice%20Icon%20-%20larger%20area.png?width=50&name=Licquorice%20Icon%20-%20larger%20area.png) [Meet Aandi](https://meetaandi.com/blog/author/meet-aandi)

Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-pdf-creation-mistakes) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-pdf-creation-mistakes) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-pdf-creation-mistakes) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-pdf-creation-mistakes) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-pdf-creation-mistakes)

## **![3](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/3.png?width=1200&height=628&name=3.png)**

## **Summary**

PDFs are widely used across government, education and business, but many are not accessible for people with disability. This blog outlines five common mistakes in accessible PDF creation that we see regularly in the remediation work we do and explains how to fix them — helping organisations stay compliant and inclusive.

---

 

PDFs are a common part of everyday communication. From government forms to annual reports and school newsletters, they’re used everywhere. But when these documents are not accessible, they can exclude people who rely on assistive technology to read and interact with content.

Accessibility in PDFs means more than just readable text. It involves the correct use of tags, structure, alternate text and navigation. Unfortunately, many organisations unintentionally overlook these details, which can lead to frustration for users and non-compliance with accessibility laws.

At Meet Aandi, we specialise in accessible document remediation. We work with government departments, schools, NDIS providers and other organisations across Australia to ensure their PDFs meet accessibility standards like WCAG and PDF/UA.

Here are five common mistakes in accessible PDF creation and how to avoid them.

## 1. No tag structure

PDFs that are not tagged properly will be unreadable by screen readers. Tags provide the behind-the-scenes structure that assistive technologies rely on. Without them, users may hear “blank” or be unable to navigate the document at all.

### How to avoid it:

Always tag your PDFs during creation. If the document is created in Word, make sure headings, lists and tables use built-in styles before converting to PDF. Then, use Adobe Acrobat Pro or a professional service to check and repair the tag structure.

## 2. Incorrect reading order

Even when a PDF is tagged, the reading order might be wrong. This means users could hear the content out of sequence, making it difficult or impossible to understand.

### How to avoid it:

Use a reading order panel to check how content flows. Drag and drop elements into the correct sequence or use accessibility tools to adjust the order as needed.

## 3. Missing or poor alt text

Images without descriptive alternative text leave blind and low vision users out of the experience. Even when alt text is included, it may be vague or irrelevant.

### How to avoid it:

Add concise, meaningful descriptions to all images that convey important information. Leave decorative images marked as “artifacts” so screen readers can skip them.

## 4. Complex tables without structure

Tables that are not tagged correctly can cause major issues. Screen readers need clearly defined headers and logical layout to interpret data properly.

### How to avoid it:

Only use tables for data (not layout), and clearly mark header rows. Avoid merged cells unless necessary, and test the table’s functionality using assistive technology.

## 5. Poor colour contrast and font choices

While this is often overlooked in PDFs, low contrast text and decorative fonts can make content difficult to read especially for users with low vision or cognitive differences.

### How to avoid it:

Use high contrast colours, readable font sizes and simple typefaces. Make sure content is clear even when printed in black and white or viewed on a mobile device.

## Meet Aandi: Your document accessibility experts

Creating accessible PDFs isn’t just a technical task, it’s about providing equal access for all users. At Meet Aandi, we offer expert PDF tagging and document remediation services tailored to Australian accessibility standards. Whether you’re updating internal documents or preparing public-facing content, we’ll help ensure your files are WCAG-compliant and genuinely usable.

Our team understands the needs of diverse users most especially people with low vision, screen reader users, neurodivergent individuals, those that speak other languages other than English and older adults. We combine technical knowledge with a people-first approach to make your content inclusive from the start.

 

[Inclusion](https://meetaandi.com/blog/tag/inclusion), [Access](https://meetaandi.com/blog/tag/access)

## Related posts

[![](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/8.png?height=200&name=8.png)](https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-document-remediation-what-australian-organisations-need-to-know-in-2025)

[Inclusion](https://meetaandi.com/blog/tag/inclusion), [Access](https://meetaandi.com/blog/tag/access)

## [Accessible Document Remediation: What Australian Organisations Need to Know in 2025](https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-document-remediation-what-australian-organisations-need-to-know-in-2025)

![Picture of Meet Aandi](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Licquorice%20Icon%20-%20larger%20area.png?width=50&name=Licquorice%20Icon%20-%20larger%20area.png) [Meet Aandi](https://meetaandi.com/blog/author/meet-aandi) 

 Jul 16, 2025, 12:40:37 PM

Summary PDFs are widely used across government, education and business, but many are not accessible...

[Read more](https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-document-remediation-what-australian-organisations-need-to-know-in-2025)

[![People watching TV jumping for joy](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/24-1.png?height=200&name=24-1.png)](https://meetaandi.com/blog/new-tv-experiences)

## [New TV experiences](https://meetaandi.com/blog/new-tv-experiences)

![Picture of Alex Bey](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alex%20Headshot%20smaller.jpg?width=50&name=Alex%20Headshot%20smaller.jpg) [Alex Bey](https://meetaandi.com/blog/author/alex-bey) 

 Jan 2, 2024, 2:33:37 PM

Know more about how AI-Mimi from Microsoft is changing the way that live captions can be provided...

[Read more](https://meetaandi.com/blog/new-tv-experiences)

[![](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/9-2.png?height=200&name=9-2.png)](https://meetaandi.com/blog/wcag-compliance-gap-old-documents)

[Inclusion](https://meetaandi.com/blog/tag/inclusion)

## [The WCAG Compliance Gap: Why Old Documents Put Organisations at Risk](https://meetaandi.com/blog/wcag-compliance-gap-old-documents)

![Picture of Meet Aandi](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Licquorice%20Icon%20-%20larger%20area.png?width=50&name=Licquorice%20Icon%20-%20larger%20area.png) [Meet Aandi](https://meetaandi.com/blog/author/meet-aandi) 

 Oct 9, 2025, 10:00:01 AM

Accessibility isn’t just about new content. Legacy documents that remain online can still create...

[Read more](https://meetaandi.com/blog/wcag-compliance-gap-old-documents)

[Document accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/document-accessibility)  
[Video accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/video-accessibility)  
[Music accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/music-accessibility)  
<https://www.meetaandi.com.au/?#training><https://www.meetaandi.com.au/?#training>[Writing & designing for accessibility](https://meetaandi.com/writing-and-designing-for-accessibility)  
[Accessibility training](https://meetaandi.com/accessibility-training)  
[DE&I consulting](https://meetaandi.com/dei-consulting)

#### Connect with us

facebook-f icon linkedin-in icon Twitter icon instagram icon

Terms & Conditions  
Privacy Policy

© Brio Group 2025

**Brio Group is all about accessible communication and is made up of:**

Accessible Design

[![BrioWebsiteLogos_BrioGroup - Cropped](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BrioWebsiteLogos_BrioGroup%20-%20Cropped.png?width=142&height=100&name=BrioWebsiteLogos_BrioGroup%20-%20Cropped.png)](https://www.briogroup.com.au/)

Accessible Education

[![thumbnail_Meet Aandi Logo Only_White (1)](https://meetaandi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/thumbnail_Meet%20Aandi%20Logo%20Only_White%20(1).png?width=252&height=63&name=thumbnail_Meet%20Aandi%20Logo%20Only_White%20(1).png)](https://www.meetaandi.com.au/)

 

Delivering Accessibility Globally

[  +61 1300 255 733](tel:1300255733)

[  info@meetaandi.com](mailto:info@meetaandi.com)

[ Contact us](https://www.meetaandi.com.au/?#contact)  
[   About us](https://meetaandi.com/about)

---

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Meet Aandi",
    "url" : "https://meetaandi.com/blog/author/meet-aandi"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-07-16T02:14:47.091Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-05-29T10:08:40.000Z",
  "headline" : "Top 5 Mistakes in Accessible PDF Creation (And How to Avoid Them)",
  "image" : [ "https://meetaandi.com/hubfs/3.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://meetaandi.com/blog/accessible-pdf-creation-mistakes",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://meetaandi.com/hubfs/MeetAandi-Logo-web.png"
    },
    "name" : "Brio Group Pty Ltd"
  }
}
```