Did you know unlabeled links in your PDFs violate the new Title II regulations under the ADA?
Many of our government clients don’t understand the new Title II regulations under the ADA, how to comply, or which of their PDFs actually need to be accessible. For cities and state governments publishing PDFs on a daily basis, unlabeled links are just one of the dozens of Title II compliance violations that need to be addressed.
If unsure how to solve PDF accessibility, continue reading. You can also learn about AccessAbility Officer’s Accessibility Management for cities and local state governments, which now ensures digital accessibility and Title II compliance under the ADA for over 35 million residents across the United States.
How to Ensure PDF Accessibility for All Links and Hyperlinks in Adobe Pro.
Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. From the top menu, click Edit.
Select Link → Add or Edit a Link
This opens Acrobat’s link editing mode where you can change the link text.
AccessAbility Pro Tip: Without this tool, links added in the PDF might display visually but remain untagged in the accessibility structure. Meaning, screen readers won’t detect them and it’s a violation of Title II compliance under the ADA.
Highlight the Text You Want to Link
For example: “City of Chandler Public Pool Schedule.”
This is an example of good link text-the user knows exactly where a link will take them, and what information is available by clicking on a link. In this case, it’s the City of Chandler’s public pool schedule.
An example of bad link text is, “Click here.”
Adjust a Link’s Appearance and Its Action
In the Create Link dialog, choose Link Type: Invisible Rectangle. This is best for accessibility.
Then choose the action, “Open a Web Page.”
Click Next, and paste the URL you want the link to take users to.
Click Ok to finish.
Ensure the Link Is in a Tag
Open the Tags Panel and check whether your new link appears inside a <Link> tag.
If the link is not in a <Link> tag, assistive technology like screen readers won’t announce it, preventing blind individuals from accessing the link. This is a Title II violation under the ADA.
Right-click the text in the Content panel. Then choose Create Tag from Selection.
In the New Tag dialog box, choose Link from the dropdown and click OK.
Now, go back to the Tags panel. The new <Link> tag should appear in the tree.
Check For Unlabeled Links
Unlabeled or unmarked links are Title II compliance violations under the ADA.
To fix this, right-click on the Tags root (or any tag) and select Find.
From the dropdown, select Unmarked Links, and then click Find.
If an unmarked link is found, it will be highlighted in the document.
Click " Tag Element" in the pop-up dialog.
The link will now be tagged and appear as a <Link> tag in the Tags panel.
How Do City & State Governments Achieve Title II Compliance Under the ADA?
For PDF accessibility, cities and state agencies have to paths they can take to achieve Title II compliance under the ADA.
- Begin updating processes, upskilling teams, and upgrading technology needed to scale PDF accessibility.
You can get started here with PDF Accessibility Simplified-Phase 1. - Partner with a team who specializes in Accessibility Management for City and State Governments.
We know. It’s frustrating. It’s confusing. And ADA Compliance can quickly get overwhelming.
From New York to California, learn how AccessAbility Officer provides Accessibility Management for cities and local state governments providing services to over 35 million residents across the United States.