ADA Compliant Map PDFs
In ArcMap or ArcPro: Export map to PDF without layers (flattened) when possible. Tagging can make items disappear from layered files.
Export Map > Options > Advanced Tab (in ArcMap) > Layers & Attributes = None
In Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Create Tags
- Open Tools > Accessibility > Reading Order (or Touch Up Reading Order - TURO).
- Treat the entire map and legend as one figure. Select it by dragging the cursor and draw a box around all of the map and legend but not the title, then choose "Figure" from the Reading Order panel. If parts of the map disappear, close out – don’t save. Go back in and make sure to draw the box around everything including the map frame and legend frame, then hit Figure.
- Select the title by drawing a box around it, then choose Text (or a Heading).
Note: Design your pages so this text is outside the map area and easy to select.
Tips:
- If you mess up a page or a document comes to you with messy tagging, select “Clear Page Structure” and then follow the above steps.
- If you need to select things that overlap, select and tag the larger item first, then the smaller.
- If want to deselect something within another item, hold down the Control key while selecting.
Close
Add Alternative Text to Figures
- Must be done after map is Tagged
- Entire document: Tools > Accessibility > Set alternate text > OK.
- Acrobat will find each figure and provide text boxes with arrows to scroll through.
- Alt text should convey the message of the map. Keep important detail outside of the alt text. Keep the alt text brief. A short alt text should indicate the type of figure and then reference more detailed descriptions in the caption or body text.
- Save & Close
- Close Accessibility ( X at top right)
- Save PDF
Run Accessibility Checker and Fix Errors
Tools > Accessibility > Full Check > Start Checking. Fix any remaining issues as follows.
Expand each section by clicking on them:
- Logical Reading Order: Check/fix in the tag tree, then Right-click > Pass
- Primary Language: Right-click > Fix > English.
- Title: Right-click > Fix > Document Title
- Color contrast: This should have been checked during map creation. Check with color checkers and fix*, then Right-click > Pass.
- Tab Order: Right-click > Fix.
- Alternative Text: Right-click Figure > Fix - A dialog box will appear allowing you click through the images and enter the text.
- Save, close, and run the checker again.
County WebPage
Add contact info to the web pages that have map PDF’s or add it to the map itself.
Example: "If you need assistance accessing the information within this document, contact [Name/Phone/Email]"