Who is this guide for?
For technical teams at various stages of evaluating accessibility tools, whether you're comparing vendors ahead of a product launch, replacing legacy solutions, or understanding the latest pitfalls to be aware of. This guide shares what true end-to-end accessibility looks like, how to assess compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA and the EAA, and what technical features matter most when building accessible, scalable document experiences.
Accessibility FAQs
Digital accessibility ensures people of all abilities can independently process and interact with content that’s accessed through various input and output methods, including screens, keyboards, screen readers, and assistive technologies. It’s a product quality standard, and in many regions and industries, a legal requirement under regulations that reference WCAG, such as Section 508 in the U.S., and the European Accessibility Act (EAA) in the EU.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) requires digital products and services to meet accessibility standards aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA, specifically EN 301 549, a European standard based on WCAG 2.1 AA. For SaaS, mobile apps, and websites, conforming to WCAG 2.1 AA is the most common way for developers to meet EAA accessibility requirements.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is a non-profit global organization that creates standards to ensure web content is accessible and works across different platforms. These standards cover web design, app development, and interoperability. The most recent set, WCAG 2.2, specifies guidelines for making web content accessible, with Level AA being the standard most often required by regulatory agencies.
To be WCAG 2.2 AA-compliant, your digital product must meet the latest standards for web accessibility. Updated success criteria include:
- Drag-and-drop alternatives so touchpad or keyboard-only users have no issues interacting with web content
- Focus indicators that visually highlight the area or element on the page are being utilized, making page navigation more intuitive
- Minimum size requirements for interactive targets, such as buttons, links, icon controls, and form fields
View detailed information on WCAG 2.2 AA’s expanded criteria here.
Yes. They target different aspects of user experience, but both are important.
- UI accessibility ensures your app's interface is usable for all, covering keyboard navigation, screen readers, and semantic HTML.
- PDF accessibility enables documents to be accessible with proper tags, a logical reading order, and metadata.
PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility) is the ISO standard for making PDFs accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring structure and tags support screen readers and other assistive technologies. Apryse SDKs help create PDF/UA-compliant, Well-Tagged PDFs so that content can be interpreted accurately. Both UI and PDF accessibility work together to deliver a fully inclusive experience. An accessible UI lets users navigate to documents, while a Well-Tagged PDF ensures they can read and interact with them effectively.
Yes. Apryse Web and Server SDKs include built-in support for screen readers and keyboard navigation to help developers meet WCAG 2.2 AA and Section 508 accessibility standards.
Digital Accessibility Challenges
Lack of Accessible UI or Document Structure
Without semantic HTML, ARIA attributes, and properly tagged PDFs, users relying on screen readers or keyboard-only input may be unable to read, fill out, or sign documents rendered in your app.
Your Code Plays a Role in Accessibility Compliance
Standards like WCAG 2.2 AA, Section 508, and the EAA require accessible user interfaces and documents. Failure to meet these can expose organizations to lawsuits, fines, or lost business opportunities.
PDF Remediation at Scale is Time-Consuming and Complex
Server-side automation can generate tags and basic structure quickly, but tasks like alt text and reading order still need manual review. Automating what’s possible speeds up remediation for large volumes of PDFs.
Inconsistent Accessibility Breaks User Flow
If accessibility features are incomplete or inconsistent across browsers or frameworks, impacted users can get confused or stuck, which can lead to lower engagement and higher abandonment.
Apryse Accessibility Features
By combining the Apryse Web SDK and Server SDK, organizations can achieve end-to-end accessibility, ensuring both the interface and the underlying document content meet compliance standards.
Apryse Web SDK
UI Accessibility Features
High Contrast Ratios
Text and UI meet or exceed 4.5:1 contrast ratios
Screen Reader Compatibility
NVDA, VoiceOver, and JAWS supported with ARIA labels and semantic structure
Full Keyboard Navigation
From UI interactions to page navigation, every action is accessible via keyboard, with logical tab order and visible focus indicators
ARIA Role Support
Interactive UI elements are semantically correct or mapped to appropriate ARIA roles for better operability
Predictable Layouts and Actions
Toolbar and menu structures remain consistent across sessions
Focus Management
Modals, menus, and form inputs automatically redirect focus, which helps users stay oriented
Apryse Server SDK
Document Accessibility Features
Auto-Tagging Engine
For documents with readable text but no structure, the SDK analyzes and applies semantic tags (e.g., headings, lists, tables), improving compatibility with screen readers
Document Conversion
For legacy documents that are often inaccessible, the SDK converts them into accessible files by extracting text, adding structure, and enabling screen-reader use
PDF/UA Support
Provides tools to help organizations achieve compliance with PDF/UA and regulatory mandates like Section 508
Vendor Considerations
How to Choose an Accessibility Partner
WCAG 2.2 AA Support
Check that the product actively supports the latest WCAG 2.2 AA criteria, not just older versions like WCAG 2.1
Full Document Lifecycle Coverage
Confirm the solution supports UI and PDF accessibility, so users can navigate the interface and access the content inside documents.
Developer Enablement
Are you able to customize and extend accessibility features to your app’s specific needs?
Client-Side Performance
Choose a solution that delivers accessibility entirely in the browser, without negatively impacting file rendering or responsiveness.
Screen Reader Compatibility
Verify that the product is tested with screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver to ensure real-world usability.
Long-Term Support & Documentation
Look for vendors who provide active maintenance, detailed documentation, and roadmap visibility to keep up with evolving standards.
The Apryse Advantage
Integrated UI + Document Accessibility
Apryse Web and Server SDKs combine screen-reader-friendly UI with the ability to automatically convert or tag inaccessible PDFs.
IT IS CLEAR
Apryse is the top choice for document processing technology
Why Industry Leaders Trust Apryse
Explore our case studies, showcasing the Apryse advantage through real-world use cases.
