ScreenReady Docs

Public documents that work with a screen reader

We fix the PDF and Word files on your website so residents, parents and students who use screen readers can read them. Agendas, fee schedules, budgets, permit forms, enrollment packets and handbooks.

For Texas cities, counties, school districts and community colleges. Every file is remediated to WCAG 2.1 AA and tested with PAC and the NVDA screen reader.

Send us 5 documents at no cost See how we work
A fixed page carries tags that tell a screen reader what each part is and the order to read it in: logo description, heading, introduction, fee table with column headers, then the labeled form field.

ADA Title II web rule: when public web content, including PDFs, must meet WCAG 2.1 AA

April 26, 2027

State and local government entities serving 50,000 people or more

April 26, 2028

Entities serving fewer than 50,000 people, and special district governments

Source: 28 CFR part 35, subpart H. General information, not legal advice. More on the rule for Texas entities.

Who we work with

The people who publish public documents: city secretaries, county clerks, communications directors, web managers and ADA coordinators.

  • Cities and counties

    Council and commissioners court agendas, minutes, budgets, fee schedules, permit applications, public notices.

  • School districts

    Enrollment packets, student handbooks, district calendars, board documents, parent notices and forms.

  • Community colleges

    Catalogs, syllabi, course materials, financial aid forms, policies and board documents.

What a screen reader hears

A PDF can look fine on screen and still be unusable with a screen reader. Below, NVDA reads the same fee schedule aloud before and after remediation.

Before Untagged PDF

  1. GraphicThe city seal has no description.
  2. Water and Sewer Fee Schedule Fiscal Year 2027 Customer type Meter sizeThe title is plain text, so no one can jump to it as a heading.
  3. Residential 5/8 inch 24.50 Commercial 1 inch 41.00Table cells run together with no column names.
  4. Edit blankThe form field has no label, so the reader does not know what to type.

After Remediated PDF

  1. Graphic, City sealThe image has alt text.
  2. Heading level 1, Water and Sewer Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027The title is a real heading.
  3. Table with 4 rows and 3 columns. Customer type, Residential. Meter size, 5/8 inch. Monthly base charge, 24.50Each value is read with its column header.
  4. Account number, edit, blankThe field has a label.

This is an illustration of common problems we find, not a client document.

How it works

  1. Send the files or links

    Email them or use the contact form. We send a fixed quote within one business day.

  2. We fix each document

    Tags, headings, reading order, tables, alt text, form labels, title and language.

  3. We test each document

    Every file is checked with PAC and read through with NVDA by a person.

  4. You get the files back

    With a short report that lists what was wrong and what we changed.

Read about our process and testing

What we fix

These are the problems that stop a screen reader user from reading a public document.

  • HeadingsReal heading levels, so people can move through the document by section.
  • Reading orderColumns, sidebars and footnotes read in the order a sighted reader follows.
  • Table headersHeader cells marked so each value is read with its row and column.
  • Alt textDescriptions written for each meaningful image, chart and map. Decorative images are hidden.
  • Form labelsEvery fillable field has a name, and fields follow a logical tab order.
  • Title and languageThe document title shows in place of the file name, and the language is set so text is pronounced correctly.

Your first 5 documents at no cost

For new public-sector clients. Send us the 5 documents people use most on your site. We return them remediated and tested, with a short report on what was wrong. No contract is required.

Send your 5 documents

Good places to start:

  • Fee schedules and rate tables
  • Permit and application forms
  • Enrollment and registration packets
  • Current agendas and budgets

Or email sales@screenreadydocs.com with links.