Avoiding PDFs and Flyers
Avoiding PDFs and Digital Flyers
PDFs and flyers may seem easy to use, but they can make it harder for people to access the message.
Many PDFs are not readable by screen readers or mobile devices, and they don’t adapt well to different screen sizes. They also are not automatically translatable to other languages. Even when they are technically “accessible,” PDFs can be challenging for users with disabilities.
Why PDFs and Digital Flyers Can Be a Problem
- Hard to Read: Many PDFs don’t work well with screen readers or mobile devices. Some are just images, which means screen readers can’t read the text at all.
- Not Translation-Friendly: PDFs aren’t automatically translatable into other languages, which limits who can understand them.
- Difficult to Update: If you need to fix something or make changes, you often have to recreate and re-upload the entire file.
What to Do Instead
- Share your message in plain text on your website or social media.
- If you use a flyer, also provide the same information as regular text below the image. Also include any text included in a graphic in the alt text.
With this method, everyone has a better opportunity to read, translate, and understand the information.