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

[foreigntype at gmail.com via athen-list]

Very funny, Dan! This could take on a life of its own LOL.

Wink Harner
Accessibility Consultant/Alternative Text Production
The Foreign Type

Portland OR
foreigntype at gmail.com

This email was dictated using Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Please forgive
quirks, misrecognitions, or errata .

On Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 1:26 PM Dan Comden via athen-list <
athen-list at u.washington.edu> wrote:


> Welcome to another edition of Acro(nym)Phobia!

>

> PDF = *P*erpetually *D*isappointing *F*iles

> I'll add it to the list, where it joins:

>

>    - *P*robably *D*oesn't *F*low

>    - *P*retty *D*umb *F*ormat

>    - *P*ublishers *D*ragging *F*eet

>    - *P*rofessors' *D*igital *F*ailure

>

> I've omitted the saltier entries. Perhaps you can create your own.

>

> Miss you folks! Happy 2026

>

> -*- Dan

> (sent from my virtual handlebars)

>

>

>

>

>> From: Karen McCall via athen-list <athen-list at u.washington.edu>

>> To: WebAIM Discussion List <webaim-forum at list.webaim.org>

>>

>> 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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>

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