Why Accessibility Should Be Part of Every Translation Project

In today’s global communication landscape, accessibility is no longer optional — it’s a professional responsibility. As translation agencies localize content for diverse audiences, ensuring that every document is accessible to all readers has become just as important as linguistic accuracy.

At WLA SRL, we help agencies combine multilingual desktop publishing (DTP) with accessible PDF remediation, creating documents that are both visually perfect and compliant with international standards such as WCAG, Section 508, and PDF/UA.

1. Accessibility expands your audience

Accessibility isn’t only for people with disabilities — it improves usability for everyone.
Clear reading order, properly tagged headings, and logical structure make documents easier to navigate on any device or screen reader. When agencies deliver accessible content, they help clients reach a wider audience and comply with inclusion laws worldwide.

2. It’s a growing client requirement

Governments, universities, and corporations increasingly require accessible documentation. Many RFPs now include WCAG or PDF/UA compliance as mandatory.
Agencies that can provide accessible PDFs gain a competitive advantage and become more valuable partners to their clients.

3. Accessibility should start at the DTP stage

Fixing accessibility after layout is time-consuming and costly.
By integrating accessibility from the DTP stage — for example, using styles correctly, adding alt text, defining reading order, and ensuring proper color contrast — agencies can deliver compliant PDFs from the start.

4. Standards you should know

The most recognized accessibility standards for digital documents are:

• WCAG 2.1 / 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
• Section 508 (U.S. Rehabilitation Act)
• PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility Standard)

Each requires that PDFs be tagged correctly, fully navigable, and readable by assistive technologies.

5. Partnering with experts saves time and guarantees quality

Not every agency has in-house accessibility specialists — and that’s where outsourcing to an experienced partner makes sense.
At WLA SRL and AccessiblePDF.ar, we support translation agencies with DTP, accessibility tagging, QA, and compliance testing using tools such as PAC 3 and Acrobat Pro.

We act as your technical arm — ensuring your deliverables are both beautiful and inclusive.

Final thoughts

Accessibility is more than a legal checkbox; it’s about respecting every reader.
Integrating accessibility into your localization workflow not only protects your clients but also elevates your agency’s quality and professionalism.

👉 Need help making your PDFs accessible?
Contact us for a Free Accessibility Audit at www.accessiblepdf.ar