Structure & Reading Order
Is information presented in a meaningful sequence?
Document Accessibility
Accessible documents start before the PDF.
Documents are part of everyday digital access, from reports and forms to presentations, spreadsheets, policies, instructions, and public information.
C4AT helps organizations create, evaluate, and improve accessible PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents.
We can help with a few important files, a large document inventory, or the way your organization creates documents in the first place.
Fix today's documents. Build better ones tomorrow.
More Than Passing a Checker
Automated checkers can identify some document problems, but they cannot determine whether a document actually works for people using assistive technology. C4AT combines automated tools, expert review, and human testing to evaluate document accessibility.
Headings & Lists
Can people understand and navigate the document structure?
Tables & Data
Are tables structured so relationships can be understood?
Images & Graphics
Do images, charts, and other visual information have appropriate alternatives?
Links & Controls
Are links, forms, and interactive elements understandable and operable?
Visual Access
Do contrast, text, layout, and other visual characteristics support access?
Passing a checker is not enough. The document still has to make sense and be usable.
PDF, Word, PowerPoint & Excel
Different formats create different accessibility challenges. We help organizations address accessibility throughout the document lifecycle.
Evaluate and remediate tags, structure, reading order, forms, tables, images, links, and other accessibility barriers.
Word
Create accessible source documents using meaningful styles, structure, tables, images, links, and authoring practices that can carry into accessible PDFs.
PowerPoint
Improve slide structure, reading order, titles, alternative text, contrast, layouts, tables, charts, and graphics.
Excel
Improve worksheet organization, tables, headers, charts, alternative text, contrast, and navigation.
Build Accessibility In From the Start
Remediating documents one at a time is rarely sustainable. C4AT can help organizations create accessible Word and PowerPoint templates, document standards, authoring guidance, and repeatable processes so staff can create accessible documents from the beginning. We can also provide practical training using your organization's own documents and templates.
Good templates and informed authors prevent accessibility problems before they happen.
Have Hundreds of Documents?
You don't have to fix everything at once.
C4AT can help you assess your document inventory and decide which documents should be remediated, replaced, converted, archived, or recreated using accessible templates. Priorities can consider how frequently a document is used, who needs it, whether it is current, its complexity, applicable requirements, and whether an editable source file is available.
The result is a practical plan that addresses immediate barriers and reduces the number of inaccessible documents created in the future.
From Remediation to Prevention
Evaluate
Understand the barriers.
Remediate
Fix important documents.
Template
Build accessible starting points.
Train
Give staff practical skills.
Maintain
Make accessibility part of everyday document creation.
You don't have to start everywhere at once.
You can start with the documents that matter most and build from there.
Documents Are Used by People
Technical document accessibility matters, but so does the experience of finding, navigating, understanding, and using the information.
When appropriate to the project, C4AT can include testing with people with disabilities and assistive technology users to understand how important documents work in practice.
Need help with your documents?
Bring us one important PDF, a set of templates, or a whole document program. We can help you decide what to tackle first.
Explore Accessibility Training for practical support that helps staff create more accessible documents from the start.