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

[via athen-list]

Hello,

One of the oldest I am aware of is:

Pretty Damn Frustrating

 

Best

George

 

From: athen-list <athen-list-bounces at mailman22.u.washington.edu> On Behalf Of Dan Comden via athen-list
Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 2:26 PM
To: athen-list at u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: [Athen] Results of the PDF user research surveys and PDF remediators research surveys are available

 

Welcome to another edition of Acro(nym)Phobia!

 

PDF = Perpetually Disappointing Files

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

*	Probably Doesn't Flow
*	Pretty Dumb Format
*	Publishers Dragging Feet
*	Professors' Digital Failure

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 <mailto:athen-list at u.washington.edu> >
To: WebAIM Discussion List <webaim-forum at list.webaim.org <mailto: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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