Understanding the PDF/UA (PDF Universal Access) standard and why it's strategic

Olivier Lebleu
5 days ago
3 min read

Introduction

The PDF format is ubiquitous in digital exchanges (reports, forms, brochures, financial documents, internal procedures, etc.). However, not all PDF files are equal in terms of accessibility: for people with disabilities (visual, auditory, motor, cognitive) or those using assistive technologies, an unstructured, untagged, or poorly organized document can become a barrier to information.

The PDF/UA standard (for “Universal Accessibility”) formalizes a set of technical criteria to ensure that PDFs are truly accessible to everyone.

What is PDF/UA?

The PDF/UA standard is an international standard (ISO 14289) that defines the technical requirements for a PDF document to be accessible: semantic tags, logical reading order, alternative text for images, language declaration, etc.

This is not a new format, but a rigorous use of the classic PDF format, ensuring that documents can be read by tools such as screen readers or braille devices.

1. Why this is important for businesses

Regulatory compliance

More and more regulations are mandating digital accessibility (European Directive 2016/2102, RGAA in France). Adherence to the PDF/UA standard guarantees the conformity of PDF documents distributed by businesses and government agencies.

Image and efficiency improvement

Producing accessible documents improves the user experience for everyone, strengthens the company's reputation as a responsible and inclusive organization, and limits the costs associated with the subsequent redesign of non-compliant documents.

Competitive differentiation

Accessibility is becoming a true quality criterion: adopting PDF/UA demonstrates a sincere attention to customer experience and corporate social responsibility.

2. Why this is essential for users

Nearly 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a significant disability, representing 16% of the world's population (WHO).
An untagged PDF can prevent access to information, making administrative, banking or medical procedures impossible without help.
PDF/UA promotes autonomy , dignity and equal access .
Even for non-disabled users, the benefits are tangible: smooth reading on mobile, easier searching, better document structure.

3. NAELAN: facilitating the creation of compliant and inclusive documents

NAELAN 's solutions enable public and private organizations to automatically produce accessible documents.

How NAELAN can help you:

Automation of compliance : the generated document templates integrate from design tags, reading orders and metadata necessary to satisfy accessibility rules.
Standardization of communications : by centralizing document generation (letters, contracts, statements, invoices, forms, etc.), NAELAN guarantees consistent quality across all media distributed.
Support and advice : our experts help teams understand and apply best practices, within a framework of “inclusive design” and digital responsibility .
Interoperability : NAELAN solutions integrate with existing CRM, ERP or DMS tools to distribute documents accessible to all your audiences (customers, users, employees).

By integrating accessibility into the heart of your communications, you not only improve regulatory compliance, but also the experience of each user.

4. Some key figures

1.3 billion people live with a significant disability (WHO, 2023).
240 million children worldwide have a disability or significant functional difficulty (UNICEF).
Less than 3.2% of PDFs available online fully meet accessibility criteria.

These figures show the scale of the need: making digital documents accessible is no longer an option, it is a collective responsibility.

Conclusion

Adopting the PDF/UA standard guarantees equal access to information for everyone.

For businesses, it is a strategic asset and a lever for transformation; for users, it is a matter of fairness and dignity.

Thanks to its software solutions and documentary expertise, NAELAN supports organizations towards more inclusive, responsible and universally accessible communication .