1. Confirm whether the PDF is visible to students.
   • If yes, the file must meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 accessibility standards.
   • If no, remove it from student view or store it in a Canvas folder for archival purposes.

2. If the file is published or linked in your course, it must be accessible even if its not actively used.

3. Did you create the file or have access to the original source?
   • If yes, jump to How to remediate a PDF below.
   • If no, review the alternative options in the next section.

In many cases, you don't need to fix the PDF directly. Start by checking if a more accessible version of the content already exists.

Option 1: Find accessible versions through the Marriott Library

• Search for the resource through the library
• Provide students with the accessible version instead of uploading a PDF

Option 2: Link to the publisher or e-book version

• Share a direct link to the content
• Students can access built-in accessibility features

Option 3: Use a high-quality scan and tagging tools

• Use UDOIT (recommended)
• Use Adobe Acrobat Pro if additional fixes are needed

Option 4: Find an alternative resource

• Search for Open Educational Resources (OER)
• Replace the material with an accessible alternative

Option 5: Convert part of the content to a Canvas page

• Copy a limited section (for example, one chapter)
• Paste into a Canvas page
• Apply headings and accessible formatting

Option 1: Auto-tag the PDF with UDOIT

• Run UDOIT to automatically tag the PDF
• Review flagged issues
• Fix remaining accessibility errors manually

Option 2: Convert the PDF into a Canvas page

• Copy content from the PDF
• Paste into a Canvas page
• Apply headings, lists, and formatting

Option 3: Use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (recommended)

1. Open the original file in Word or PowerPoint
2. Run the built-in Accessibility Checker
3. Fix any identified issues
4. Export a new accessible PDF
5. Upload both the updated PDF and the original file

Option 4: Use ChatGPT to help restructure content

• Confirm the content is appropriate to upload
• Use a prompt like: Restructure this document to meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.
• Review the output for accuracy
• Run the updated file through UDOIT

Option 5: Fix accessibility in Adobe Acrobat

1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro
2. Select Accessibility
3. Run Accessibility Check
4. Use Automatically tag PDF if needed
5. Fix reading order using the Tags and Order panels

• Start with the original source file whenever possible. Fixing accessibility in Word or PowerPoint is faster and more reliable than editing a PDF.
• Automatically tagged PDFs are not fully accessible. Always review and fix remaining issues before sharing with students.