How to Make LaTeX Documents Accessible

Introduction: Creating Accessible LaTeX Documents

Creating accessible LaTeX documents is essential for ensuring that all readers, including those using assistive technology, can effectively engage with your content. Search engines, consequently, prioritize content that is clear and easy to consume.

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to make LaTeX documents accessible. By following these instructions, therefore, you will learn how to produce documents that are compatible with screen readers, compliant with accessibility standards, and ready for platforms like Canvas.

Step 1: Setting up Overleaf Compiler and Version

The instructions to select LuaLaTeX and version 2025 are as follows:

1. Click on the “Menu” button located on the top left corner of the Overleaf document.
   

2. Click on the “Compiler” drop-down menu to open the list.
3. Locate and select “LuaLaTeX.”
   

4. To use the correct Tex version, next, locate the “Tex Live Compiler” drop-down menu, click on it, and select 2025 if it’s not already selected.
5. Finally, once completed, the menu setup should match the following screenshot:
   

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Step 2: Defining the Accessible Document Class

The first major step in creating an accessible LaTeX document is setting up the document class. The \documentclass command is vital because it determines the document’s type and accessibility configuration.

The commands required for accessibility are:

\DocumentMetadata{
tagging = on,
lang = en,
pdfversion = 2.0,
pdfstandard = UA-2,
pdfstandard = A-4f,
tagging-setup = {math/setup={mathml-AF,mathml-SE}, extra-modules={verbatim-mo}}}

This configuration ensures proper MathML inclusion using two methods: firstly, the AF method, and secondly, the SE method.

• The AF (Associated File) method, where a MathML representation of each formula **resides** within an associated file embedded in the PDF.
• The SE (Structure Element) method, where the MathML representation is embedded directly into PDF structure elements (the tags tree).

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Step 3: Tagging LaTeX Content for Accessibility

Some LaTeX tags are more accessible than others. Therefore, for each of the content areas below, use the recommended tags to improve your document’s compliance.

3.1 Math Equations (Inline and Displayed)

For inline math mode (equations shown within a sentence), it is recommended to use the standard $ $ delimiters to define a math expression.

Example: Define the loop gain $L(s)=G(s) G_{c}(s)$. The output:

 

 

For an equation in displayed math mode (equations on their own line), conversely, it is recommended to use \[ \].

Example: \[T(s)=\frac{Y(s)}{R(s)} \]. The output:

3.2 Accessible Tables

This is the general form of creating accessible tables, which is essential for ensuring the header row is correctly identified: \tagpdfsetup{table/header-rows=1}

The full LaTeX code should look like the following:

\begin{table}
\caption{Example} % This is a separate, accessible element
\begin{center}
\tagpdfsetup{table/header-rows=1} % Only the 'Name' and 'Value' row is the header
\begin{tabular}{lr}
Name&Value\\
This& 11 \\
That & 2
\end{tabular}

\end{table}

3.3 Adding Alt Text to Images

Images require alt text (alternative text) to make documents accessible to screen readers. The standard command for placing an image in the document is:

\begin{figure}[H]
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=.75\textwidth]{Images/img1.png}
    \caption{Unity Feedback Configuration for Error Signal Analysis}
    \label{fig:UnityFeedback}

The square brackets ([]) in the \includegraphics command are used to pass key-value options like width and alt text. To add alt text, specifically, insert a comma and the line: alt={Unity Feedback Configuration for Error Signal Analysis}.

All together, the accessible \includegraphics command should look like: \includegraphics[width=.75\textwidth,alt={Unity Feedback Configuration for Error Signal Analysis}]{Images/img1.png}

The full graphics command with alt text should now look like the following:

\begin{figure}[H]
    \centering
    \includegraphics[width=.75\textwidth,alt={Unity Feedback Configuration for Error Signal Analysis}]{Images/img1.png}
    \caption{Unity Feedback Configuration for Error Signal Analysis}
    \label{fig:UnityFeedback}

We used Adobe Acrobat to verify the creation of alt text:

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Step 4: Verification and Canvas Upload

1. Recompile, proofread, and Export your LaTeX file to PDF.
2. Upload your file to Canvas and use the Ally tool to check the accessibility score.
3. If any additional changes are required, then always make those changes in the original LaTeX document, upload, and replace the previous version.

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Conclusion

Following these recommended steps significantly improves the accessibility of LaTeX documents, leading to better performance in accessibility checkers and compatibility with screen readers.

 

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