[Athen] Results of the PDF user research surveys and PDF remediators research surveys are available

[Statham III, Otis via athen-list]

Hi Karen, Be of good cheer. I am currently making PDFs much more accessible for PSU. They test High in Accessibility and most are accessible for read-aloud. Many more to do though. 😊

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Karen McCall via athen-list
Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 10:27 AM
To: Susan Kelmer <Susan.Kelmer at colorado.edu>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: [Athen] Results of the PDF user research surveys and PDF remediators research surveys are available

Yes, I no longer have hope that PDFs will ever be accessible and usable for those of us with disabilities.
I still believe that we need to teach people how to make more accessible word processed, presentation, and spreadsheet content…anything digital must be accessible.
Even when I think of AI, it is being programmed by people who know nothing about accessibility: garbage in, garbage out. Intentional accessibility barriers.
Cheers, Karen

From: Susan Kelmer <Susan.Kelmer at colorado.edu<mailto:Susan.Kelmer at colorado.edu>>
Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 9:34 AM
To: Karen McCall <K4mccall at outlook.com<mailto:K4mccall at outlook.com>>; Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: RE: Results of the PDF user research surveys and PDF remediators research surveys are available

I don’t even do PDF remediation, and I knew this was the case.  In fact, it is why I don’t ever get myself involved in PDF remediation projects.  There is no purpose to it.
That doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed by the results of the survey.  Ten years, and we still don’t have a product we can work with.  So frustrating, considering the incredible growth in technology the last 20 years.
Susan Kelmer
Alternate Format Production Program Manager
Disability Services
Division of Student Life
T 303 735 4836
www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices<http://www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices>


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From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Karen McCall via athen-list
Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 6:03 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List <webaim-forum at list.webaim.org<mailto:webaim-forum at list.webaim.org>>
Cc: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu<mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: [Athen] Results of the PDF user research surveys and PDF remediators research surveys are available

[External email - use caution]

Morning!
All research surveys are up!
https://www.karlencommunications.com/Research.html
As a summary, little has changed in the 10 years I’ve been doing this research.
Those using adaptive technologies such as screen readers have the same problems with PDFs in 2025 as they did in 2015.
Those remediating PDFs are frustrated with not having adequate tools to do the remediations as they were in 2015.
I’m presenting the results of all surveys at the ICICT conference in London UK in February.
It is worth noting that if I hadn’t gone through year by year of the research for the ICICT journal article, you wouldn’t be able to tell a response from 2015 or 2025. Things are that static in terms of lack of accessibility and lack of tools from both sides of the PDF accessibility issue.
Cheers, Karen
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