Accessibility in InDesign: Creating PDFs Everyone Can Use

How can you make the documents you design easier for people with disabilities to read and navigate? Join accessibility expert Chad Chelius for a practical look at creating more accessible PDFs with Adobe InDesign.

Chad will explain what document accessibility means, why it matters, and how the choices you make in InDesign affect the experience of people using screen readers and other assistive technologies. He’ll explore ways to incorporate accessibility into your everyday workflow and avoid common problems that create extra work later.

Topics include:

• Understanding how people using assistive technology experience your documents
• Building document structure with styles and a logical reading order
• Considering color contrast and adding alternative text to images
• Preparing InDesign files for PDF export and understanding what still needs attention in Acrobat

Whether you’re new to accessibility or looking to improve your existing practices, this session will help you approach your next project with greater understanding and confidence.

Free Drawing

All attendees are eligible to participate in a free drawing. No purchase or donation is required. However, you must attend the presentation to be eligible. Prizes delivered electronically are available to anyone in the world. Physical prizes are available to anyone in the U.S. without a shipping charge. Winners from outside the U.S. who choose a physical prize must bear the cost of shipping.

About the Presenter

Chad Chelius

Chad Chelius is a trainer, author, consultant, and speaker specializing in document accessibility and Adobe publishing workflows. An Adobe Certified Instructor and Accessible Document Specialist, he serves as an Accessibility Wizard at Chad Chelius. He helps clients create accessible documents using InDesign, Microsoft Word, and Adobe Acrobat, drawing on decades of experience in design and publishing to connect accessibility with everyday production practices.

Based in the Philadelphia area, Chad works with organizations of all sizes in the United States and abroad. His expertise includes InDesign and InCopy workflows, Illustrator, and automation, with an emphasis on helping people solve problems and work more efficiently. He also cohosts Chax Chat with Dax Castro, exploring document accessibility through practical advice, discussions, and interviews.

Chad has developed books, articles, and training courses for Peachpit Press/Adobe Press, Pearson Education, lynda.com, and LinkedIn Learning. His writing has appeared in InDesign Magazine, InDesignSecrets.com, and CreativePro.com. He has presented at Adobe MAX, CreativePro Week, The InDesign Conference, and other industry events, sharing techniques that help designers put their software to better use.

Outside of work, Chad enjoys spending time with his family, cycling through the Pennsylvania hills, and snowboarding.