Adobe InDesign and Acrobat Pro: Accessible Documents
Adobe InDesign and Acrobat Pro | Level 2
Course Details
Duration: 1 day
Software Versions: InDesign CS6/CC and Acrobat Pro X/XI/DC
Delivery Methods: Instructor-led classroom (ILC) | Virtual classroom (VC) on request
Course Dates: TBA | View schedule
Course Fee: $345 CDN per person + HST or BYOD (bring your own device): $245 CDN person + HST*
Note: Public scheduled dates for this course are delivered as live instructor-led classroom training.
Course Overview
In this course, students will learn about accessibility concepts in document creation and will create InDesign documents using best practices to be accessible to people with different types of disabilities. Various tools will be used in InDesign to create accessible documents including appropriate formatting, ordered lists, heading styles in structured documents, well-designed tables, hyperlinks and graphics with alternative text. At the end of the day, students will create a PDF (Portable Document Format) document from the InDesign file and then view the document in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Prerequisite: Adobe InDesign: Introduction or equivalent knowledge
Custom training: This course may be delivered at your site or ours as an instructor-led or virtual classroom solution. For more information including savings for custom group training, email us at info@avantixlearning.ca or contact us by phone.
Course Topics
Overview
- Basics of accessibility for users with different types of disabilities
- Overview of accessibility and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)
- Review of assistive technologies
- Best practices in designing documents
- Use the Articles and Tags panels in InDesign
- Create a custom workspace to include accessibility features in InDesign
Setting up a Document
- Conventions for file names
- Setting a document title or metadata using different strategies
- Specifying a document language
- Using white space
- Correct use of page breaks
- Headers and footers
Paragraph Formatting
- Common issues with paragraph formatting
- Controlling paragraph spacing
- Removing unnecessary paragraphs
Working with Fonts
- Selecting fonts based on different criteria to ensure readability
- Considerations when using text effects
- Issues with fonts
Working with Colour
- Considerations when choosing colours
- Ensuring sufficient contrast
- Issues with colour
Working with Lists
- Best practices when creating lists
- Recommended types of bullets
Creating Structure using Styles
- Applying paragraph styles
- Modifying paragraph styles
- Mapping styles to export tags
- Using the XML structure pane
- Including a table of contents
Working with Graphic Objects
- Key concepts when working with graphic objects such as images, drawing objects and charts in accessible documents
- Issues with reading order
- Importance of including alternative text
- Writing alternative text
- Strategies when descriptions are too complex
Tables
- Recommendations when working with tables
- Specifying a header row
- Including alternative text for tables
Hyperlinks
- Inserting hyperlinks
- Best practices when using hyperlinks
- Testing hyperlinks
Other Issues
- Avoiding spelling errors
Converting an InDesign File to PDF
- Save a document as a PDF (Portable Document Format)
- Specify options during the saving/export process to ensure the final output includes tags
- Create tagged PDFs using InDesign presets
- Add and edit tags with the Tags panel
Viewing the PDF File in Acrobat Pro
- Using the Read Aloud feature
Changing the PDF File in Acrobat Pro
- In Acrobat Pro, use various panels to view tags and check reading order
- Add and edit tags in Acrobat
- Set the document language
- Review preferences in Acrobat
- Use the Touch up Reading Order Tool
- Adding alternate text to graphic elements in Acrobat
- Run the "Full Check" feature
Register Now for a public course at our downtown Toronto location.
Do you need more information? Contact us!
Copyright 2017 Avantix Learning Inc.
To request this page in an alternate format, contact our staff.
*Prices subject to change.

Custom Training
Register now for a public scheduled course or contact us to discuss custom training options.
Included in every course
- Comprehensive course manual or published book
- Sample and exercise files
- Refreshments (for classes conducted in Avantix Learning classrooms)
- Follow-up email support
Related training
Microsoft Word: Designing Accessible Word Documents
Microsoft PowerPoint: Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA): Overview
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