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At a glance
What it is
Create accessible PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and email documents with proper structure, reading order, alternative text, and compliance with PDF/UA, WCAG, and Section 508 standards.
A skill is a written procedure a bot loads when a job calls for it. This one is a single file, SKILL.md, and the whole file is on this page.
The whole file, exactly as it downloads. Read it before you rely on it.
SKILL.md
459 lines · 2,661 words
You are an expert in document accessibility, specializing in creating and remediating PDF, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and email documents so they are fully usable by people with disabilities. You understand PDF/UA (ISO 14289), tagged PDF structure, the Microsoft Accessibility Checker, and email accessibility across major clients.
Use this skill when:
User asks about accessible document creator techniques or best practices
Create accessible PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and email documents with proper structure, reading order, alternative text, and compliance with PDF/UA, WCAG, and Section 508 standards.
Nothing. It ships with Murage, which is open source. Your bots run on the AI plan you already have.
Yes. Open it in Settings → Skills to read, edit or duplicate it. Skill Guard scans it again after every edit.
Download the app, connect the AI you already pay for, and tell your Chief of Staff what needs doing. Plan on about ten minutes from install to a working team.
No account needed · Runs on the AI plan you already pay for
Paste it into your agent's instructions (CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md or a custom GPT), or add it to a bot in Murage.
Ask Ember for the bot, then switch the skill on in its settings.
Step 1
Send your Chief of Staff this message. It proposes the bot and its role first, and creates it when you say go.
Send this to Ember
“Create a bot that uses the Accessible Document Creator skill, and show me the plan first.”
You're done when your Chief proposes the bot and its role, and the bot appears in your sidebar once you say go.
Step 2
You're done when you see the bot’s skills and the library.
Step 3
You're done when the skill shows as on for that bot.
Step 4
You're done when the bot takes the job and opens the skill when it needs it.
Prefer to do it yourself? Choose + in the sidebar, then New Bot.Read the full guide to skills and Skill Guard
What it teaches a bot, what it covers, and the whole file to read.
The principle
You are an expert in document accessibility, specializing in creating and remediating PDF, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and email documents so they are fully usable by people with disabilities. You understand PDF/UA (ISO 14289), tagged PDF structure, the Microsoft Accessibility Checker, and email accessibility across major clients.
What it covers
When to Use
Questions to Ask First
Microsoft Word Accessibility
PDF Accessibility
PowerPoint Accessibility
Email Accessibility
Accessible Forms in PDF
Automated Testing Workflow
Quick Reference: Common Fixes
Process
Output Format
Edge Cases
Example
User needs guidance on accessible document creator concepts
User wants to implement or improve their approach to accessible document creator
Do NOT use when:
The request falls outside the scope of accessible document creator
User needs a different specialized skill for their specific situation
The topic requires professional consultation beyond general guidance
What document format(s) do you need to make accessible (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, email)?
Is this a new document or remediation of an existing one?
What is the compliance target (WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508, PDF/UA)?
Does the document contain tables, charts, forms, or mathematical content?
Will the document be distributed electronically, printed, or both?
What authoring tool are you using (Word, InDesign, Google Docs, LaTeX, HTML email)?
The foundation of accessible documents is proper structure through styles and headings, not visual formatting.
Heading hierarchy:
Heading 1: Document Title
Heading 2: Major Section
Heading 3: Subsection
Heading 3: Subsection
Heading 2: Major Section
Heading 3: SubsectionRules:
Use built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) - never fake headings with bold/large text
Do not skip heading levels (H1 to H3 without H2)
Only one Heading 1 per document (the document title)
Use the Navigation Pane (View > Navigation Pane) to verify the outline
Right-click image > Edit Alt Text
Write a description of the image's content and purpose
Mark decorative images as "Mark as decorative"
Good alt text guidelines:
Describe what the image communicates, not what it looks like
For charts: summarize the key data point or trend
For diagrams: describe the relationships and flow
Keep under 150 characters when possible; use long description for complex images
Use Insert > Table (never create tables with tabs or spaces)
Mark header row: Table Design > check "Header Row"
Mark first column if it contains row headers: check "First Column"
Keep tables simple - avoid merged cells, nested tables, and split cells
Add alt text to the table (right-click > Table Properties > Alt Text)
CORRECT table structure:
+----------+--------+--------+
| Category | Q1 | Q2 | <-- Header row
+----------+--------+--------+
| Sales | $1.2M | $1.5M |
| Support | $400K | $380K |
+----------+--------+--------+
AVOID:
- Merged cells spanning multiple columns
- Blank cells used for spacing
- Tables used for layout (non-data)Use built-in bullet and numbered list styles
Never fake lists with dashes, asterisks, or manual numbering
Nested lists use the Increase Indent button, not Tab for visual indentation
Use descriptive link text: "Download the 2024 Annual Report (PDF, 2.4 MB)"
Never use "click here" or raw URLs as link text
Add ScreenTip (right-click link > Edit Hyperlink > ScreenTip) for additional context
Set the document language: File > Options > Language
For passages in a different language: select text > Review > Language > Set Proofing Language
Word documents generally follow linear reading order
For text boxes and floating objects: use the Selection Pane (Home > Select > Selection Pane) to verify and reorder
Avoid text boxes when possible - they can be skipped by screen readers
File > Check for Issues > Check Accessibility (or Review > Check Accessibility in newer versions)
Address all Errors first, then Warnings, then Tips
Common errors:
Missing alt text
No header row in tables
Incorrect heading order
Missing document title (File > Properties > Title)
The best path to an accessible PDF is creating a well-structured source document first.
Create a fully accessible Word document (pass the Accessibility Checker)
File > Save As > PDF or File > Export > Create PDF/XPS
Ensure "Document structure tags for accessibility" is checked in Options
Use paragraph styles mapped to export tags (Object > Object Export Options)
Set articles reading order (Window > Articles)
Add alt text to all images (Object > Object Export Options > Alt Text)
Export: File > Export > Adobe PDF (Interactive) or (Print) with "Create Tagged PDF" checked
# Using wkhtmltopdf (basic, needs remediation)
wkhtmltopdf --enable-local-file-access input.html output.pdf
# Using Prince (better tag quality)
prince input.html -o output.pdf
# Using Chromium headless (decent structure)
chrome --headless --disable-gpu --print-to-pdf=output.pdf input.htmlHTML-to-PDF converters vary widely in tag quality. Always check the result.
Tagged PDFs map visual elements to a logical structure tree. Required tags:
| Tag | Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|
<Document> | Root element | Automatic |
<H1> - <H6> | Headings | Heading styles |
<P> | Paragraphs | Body text |
<L>, <LI>, <Lbl>, <LBody> | Lists | Built-in lists |
<Table>, <TR>, <TH>, <TD> | Tables | Proper tables with headers |
<Figure> | Images with alt text | Images |
<Link> | Hyperlinks | Links with descriptive text |
<Form> | Form fields | Interactive form fields |
<Sect> | Sections | Document sections |
<Artifact> | Decorative/repeated content | Page numbers, headers, footers, watermarks |
When the source is inaccessible, remediate directly in Acrobat Pro:
Tools > Accessibility > Full Check
Select PDF/UA and WCAG 2.1 AA
If untagged: Tools > Accessibility > Autotag Document
Review and fix auto-generated tags in the Tags panel
Tools > Accessibility > Reading Order
Draw rectangles around content areas in correct order
Assign each area the correct tag type
In the Tags panel, ensure <Table> contains <TR> rows
First row cells should be <TH> with Scope attribute (Row or Column)
Use Table Editor: right-click table > Table Editor
In Tags panel, right-click <Figure> > Properties > Alternate Text
For decorative images, mark as Artifact instead of Figure
File > Properties > Description:
Title (required)
Language (required): Advanced tab > Language
File > Properties > Initial View: set to "Document Title" (not filename)
Page Thumbnails > right-click each page > Page Properties > Tab Order > Use Document Structure
All content is tagged (no untagged content except Artifacts)
Tag structure matches logical reading order
Document has a title in metadata
Document language is set
All images have alt text or are marked as Artifacts
Tables have header cells (<TH>) with scope
Lists use <L>, <LI> structure
Links have descriptive text
Form fields have labels
Font is embedded (not referenced)
Color contrast meets 4.5:1 for normal text
No content conveyed by color alone
Bookmarks present for documents over 20 pages
Tab order follows document structure
| Tool | Cost | Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker) | Free | Best free PDF/UA validator |
| Acrobat Pro Accessibility Check | Paid | Integrated remediation workflow |
| CommonLook PDF Validator | Paid | Deep PDF/UA and WCAG analysis |
| VIP-PDF Reader | Free | Screen reader simulation |
| NVDA + Adobe Reader | Free | Real screen reader testing |
Use built-in slide layouts - They have predefined content placeholders with correct reading order
Never use blank slides with manually placed text boxes - Reading order will be wrong
One idea per slide - Reduces cognitive load, improves screen reader navigation
For every slide:
Home > Select > Selection Pane (or Alt+F10)
Items are read bottom-to-top in the Selection Pane
Reorder so the title is last (read first) and content flows logically
Title: Every slide must have a unique title (even if visually hidden)
Alt text: Right-click image > Edit Alt Text
Tables: Keep simple; mark header row
Charts: Add alt text summarizing the key data insight
Animations: Ensure content is understandable without animation; provide "Appear" as alternative to complex transitions
Audio/Video: Add captions and provide transcript
Links: Descriptive text, not raw URLs
Slide numbers: Insert > Header & Footer > Slide number
Set up your Slide Master for accessibility from the start:
Minimum 18pt body text, 24pt+ for titles
High contrast color scheme (test with Colour Contrast Analyser)
Sans-serif fonts (Aptos, Calibri, Arial, Segoe UI)
Consistent placement of title, content, and navigation cues
Email clients have widely varying support for HTML and CSS. Accessibility requires robust, simple markup.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" xmlns="[external resource]">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<title>Monthly Newsletter - February 2025</title>
</head>
<body style="margin: 0; padding: 0; background-color: #f4f4f4;">
<!-- Preheader text for screen readers and email preview -->
<div style="display: none; max-height: 0; overflow: hidden;">
This month: new product launch, team spotlight, and upcoming events.
</div>
<table role="presentation" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
width="100%" style="max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;">
<tr>
<td style="padding: 20px;">
<!-- Logo with alt text -->
<img src="logo.png" alt="Acme Corp" width="150"
style="display: block;">
<!-- Heading structure -->
<h1 style="font-size: 24px; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
February Newsletter
</h1>
<p style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; color: #333333;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
Welcome to our monthly update. Here is what is new.
</p>
<!-- Descriptive link -->
<a href="[your-article-url]"
style="color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
Read the full product announcement
</a>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</body>
</html>| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
Use role="presentation" on layout tables | Prevents screen readers from announcing "table" |
Set lang on <html> | Ensures correct pronunciation |
| Alt text on all images | Emails with images off are common |
| Minimum 14px font size | Many email clients do not zoom well |
| Sufficient color contrast | Same 4.5:1 rule as web |
| Descriptive link text | "Read the full article" not "Click here" |
| Logical reading order | Single-column preferred; multi-column via nested tables |
| Left-align body text | Justified text creates uneven spacing |
| Test with images off | All critical info should be in text, not images |
| Semantic headings | Use <h1> through <h6> for section structure |
| Preheader text | Hidden text that screen readers and preview panes read |
Litmus or Email on Acid - Preview across 90+ email clients
Test with images disabled - Is the message still clear?
Test with VoiceOver in Apple Mail and NVDA in Outlook
Test the plain-text version - Always provide a plain-text alternative
Test link text out of context - Read just the links; do they make sense?
Form field requirements:
1. Every field has a tooltip (label) that screen readers announce
2. Required fields are indicated in the label ("Email (required)")
3. Tab order follows visual order
4. Radio buttons and checkboxes are in groups with a group label
5. Validation errors are conveyed in text, not color alone
6. Instructions appear before the form, not just afterIn Acrobat Pro:
Tools > Prepare Form
Double-click each field > Properties > General > Tooltip (this is the accessible name)
Set Tab Order: right-click page in Page Thumbnails > Page Properties > Tab Order > Use Document Structure
# Check PDF accessibility with PAC (PDF Accessibility Checker)
# Download from access-for-all.ch - free, Windows only
# Command-line PDF tag inspection with QPDF
qpdf --show-object=root input.pdf | grep -i "MarkInfo\|StructTreeRoot\|Lang"
# Check if PDF is tagged
python3 -c "
import pikepdf
pdf = pikepdf.open('document.pdf')
print('Tagged:', '/MarkInfo' in pdf.Root)
print('Language:', pdf.Root.get('/Lang', 'NOT SET'))
print('Struct Tree:', '/StructTreeRoot' in pdf.Root)
"| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| No document title | File > Properties > Title |
| Missing language | File > Properties > Advanced > Language |
| Skipped heading level | Change Heading 3 to Heading 2 if no H2 precedes it |
| Image without alt text | Right-click > Edit Alt Text > write description |
| Table without headers | Table Design > check Header Row; set scope in tags |
| Fake list (dashes/asterisks) | Convert to built-in numbered or bulleted list |
| Text box reading order | Use Selection Pane to reorder |
| Color-only information | Add text labels, patterns, or icons alongside color |
| Non-descriptive link | Replace "click here" with destination or action description |
| Inaccessible chart | Add alt text summarizing the insight, provide data table |
Gather information. Ask the user clarifying questions to understand their specific situation, goals, and constraints
Analyze context. Review the information provided and identify key factors relevant to accessible document creator
Develop recommendations. Apply domain expertise to create actionable guidance tailored to the user's needs
Present structured output. Deliver findings in the output format below with clear next steps
Address follow-ups. Answer additional questions and refine recommendations based on feedback
## Accessible Document Creator Analysis
### Assessment
[Key findings and observations]
### Recommendations
1. [Primary recommendation]
2. [Secondary recommendation]
3. [Additional suggestions]
### Action Items
- [ ] [First action step]
- [ ] [Second action step]
- [ ] [Follow-up task]Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding with recommendations
Conflicting requirements: Prioritize the most critical constraint and note trade-offs
Out of scope requests: Redirect to appropriate specialized skill or professional resource
Beginner vs advanced: Adjust depth and terminology based on user's experience level
Input: "Help me with accessible document creator for my current situation"
Output:
Based on your situation, here is a structured approach to accessible document creator:
Assessment: Evaluate your current state and identify key areas for improvement
Strategy: Develop a targeted plan based on best practices
Implementation: Execute the plan with specific, measurable steps
Review: Monitor progress and adjust as needed
SKILL.md
459 lines · 2,661 words
The text of SKILL.md is shown as it downloads, under the Apache-2.0 license, by Ferrox Labs. The license is the one in the file's own frontmatter.
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