The University of Virginia has taken an additional step towards enhancing accessibility and inclusivity within its academic and healthcare communities by offering Equidox, a PDF remediation software, free of charge to faculty, staff, and UVA Health professionals.

PDFs (Portable Document Format) are everywhere in the digital space, serving as a standard for sharing and presenting documents across various platforms to various users without them having to have specific software such as Microsoft Word. However, the inherent structure of PDFs can pose significant obstacles for individuals with disabilities. Elements like complex layouts, untagged images, and insufficient document structure can hinder screen readers and other assistive technologies, limiting access to critical information.

The Need for PDF Accessibility

As UVA strives to make our digital content accessible to all, addressing PDF accessibility becomes paramount. Accessible PDFs ensure that individuals with disabilities can independently access, read, and interact with the information contained within our documents. Moreover, it aligns with industry standards for digital accessibility, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Equidox emerges as a comprehensive solution to bridging the accessibility gaps, offering a user-friendly platform designed to enhance the accessibility of PDF documents by helping users easily place the needed tags into the PDF for our users. The tool recognizes the unique challenges posed by PDFs and empowers our users to create documents that adhere to the highest accessibility standards including PDF/UA (ISO 14289).

Benefits of Equidox in PDF Accessibility

1. Compliance and Legal Protection: By utilizing Equidox, UVA is proactively helping to reach those accessibility standards. This helps us foster our commitment to inclusivity for our faculty, staff, students, and all visitors.
2. Improved User Experience: Accessible PDFs created with Equidox enhance the overall user experience for individuals with disabilities. By providing a seamless and independent means of accessing information, UVA can build a positive and inclusive digital environment.
3. Time and Resource Efficiency: Equidox significantly reduces the time and resources required for manual document remediation. Its automated features streamline the process, allowing organizations to allocate resources efficiently and prioritize accessibility without compromising productivity.

Key Features of Equidox in PDF Accessibility

1. Automated Remediation: Equidox employs advanced algorithms to automatically detect and rectify accessibility issues within PDF documents. This includes ensuring proper heading structures, alternative text for images, and logical reading order. The automated remediation feature not only saves time but also ensures consistent and accurate results.
2. Customizable Solutions: Equidox provides UVA with the flexibility to customize our accessible documents based on specific needs. This ensures that the unique requirements of different departments, or document types can be met while maintaining compliance with accessibility standards.

Access to Equidox

Faculty, Staff, and UVA Health System employees have the ability to use Equidox free of charge for their UVA document needs.  In order to gain access to Equidox you will need to register for the Equidox user training by contacting the Digital Accessibility Coordinator.  Once you have completed the training you will be provided access to Equidox.

After the second training has been conducted the above paragraph will be changed to the following: 

Faculty, Staff, and UVA Health System employees have the ability to use Equidox free of charge for their UVA document needs.  In order to gain access to Equidox you will need to register for the Equidox user training by enrolling and completing the Workday Course.  Once you have completed the training you will submit the Account Request Form for Equidox.  Once it has been verified that you have completed the course you will be provided access to the Equidox system.

Equidox Resources

For additional assistance on Equidox checkout the resources below or contact the Digital Accessibility Coordinator. Note, some of the videos may visually look different than your system, due to a recent update of the user interface.