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Digital Accessibility Practice: Accessibility and PDFs

Drawing on real examples, common pitfalls, and practical alternatives, this session aims to explain challenges and solutions for authors.

  • 23 Feb 2026, 10.15am to 11.00am GMT
  • 8W 2.30, 8 West, University of Bath
  • You can attend this event in person or online.
  • This event is free

PDFs have been the default format in higher education for decades - but they often introduce accessibility problems that can stop people being able to read, navigate, and engage with materials. If you've ever tried reading a report a mobile you may be familiar with some issues, but there are also other hidden barriers for those that rely on assistive technology.

Drawing on real examples, common pitfalls, and practical alternatives, this session aims to give a clear roadmap for deciding when to use a PDF, when to use something better instead and accessible PDF design tips.

Register now.

This session will run as a hybrid event.

In this session we will explore:

  • How PDFs can unintentionally exclude people
  • What makes a PDF accessible and what makes this hard
  • PDF alternatives that are inclusive and easy to author.
  • Useful design patterns and tips for accessible PDF outputs. Register for PDFs and accessibility: challenges and solutions

This hybrid event be recorded and is open to anyone who creates PDFs for teaching, research, internal and external publication. Please note that the Digital Accessibility Community Drop-in clinic will run afterwards to discuss your work and PDFs or other digital accessibility topics more.

Presenter: Dr Josh Lim, Digital Accessibility Leader & Learning Technologist.

Register now.

Location

8W 2.30


8W 2.30 8 West University of Bath Claverton Down Bath BA2 7AY United Kingdom

Contact us

Dr Josh Lim, Digital Accessibility Leader & Learning Technologist (STEM)