Designing accessible multilingual documents goes way beyond translation. In this episode, Dax and Chad unpack the many layers, from alt text limitations and form field quirks to font encoding nightmares and cultural sensitivity in visuals. If you're designing multi-language documents or forms, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you build documents that are truly inclusive. Interested in a resource mentioned in this episode? Send us an email at solutions@chaxtc.com and we...
Jun 23, 2025•29 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Forms are one of the trickiest types of PDF’s to make accessible! In this episode, Chad and Dax break down why forms can be so frustrating, how tagging impacts screen reader navigation, and what tools and workflows can help you build forms that are both functional and accessible. They share tips that save time (and sanity), pitfalls to avoid, and, as always, they remind you why checking your work with a screen reader is essential. Interested in a resource mentioned in this episode? Send us an em...
Jun 10, 2025•44 min•Season 5Ep. 7
In this episode of Chax Chat, hosts Chad Chelius and Dax Castro tackle real-world challenges in document accessibility, focusing on tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat. They explore common issues with tables and cells, such as merged headers and layout complexities, and share practical tips for ensuring accessibility across different formats. The conversation includes strategies for managing accessibility in spreadsheets and PDFs, highlighting the nuances of remediation. Plus we ...
May 27, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this episode of ChaxChat , hosts Chad Chelius and Dax Castro delve into document accessibility with a focus on real-world challenges and professional development. This episode highlights tools and strategies that bridge the gap between aesthetics and functionality. Working in MS Word, Powerpoint and Adobe Acrobat. Using the Microsoft accessibility checker. Qualitative VS quantitative. And of course Koi Talk.
May 13, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 5
What really drives accessibility—compliance, inclusion, or brand trust? Chad and Dax unpack an IAAP white paper on motivations, share how automation needs a human touch, and highlight why certifications like IAAP’s ADS matter. They also dive into creating truly accessible documents with a focus on meeting PDF/UA standards. Perfect for anyone ready to level up their accessibility game.
May 01, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad Chelius and Dax Castro take a hard look at the hidden risks of relying on templates for accessible content. They unpack how even well-intentioned templates can bake in bad practices and create barriers at scale when not built with accessibility in mind. From heading structures to color contrast, the duo shares tips on what to look out for and how to fix it. They also touch on recent accessibility lawsuits that highlight the real-world consequences of getting it...
Apr 15, 2025•43 min•Season 5Ep. 3
In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad Chelius and Dax Castro dive into the world of artificial intelligence and its role in accessibility. From AI-generated alt text to document remediation tools, they explore the balance between automation and accuracy. You’ll hear real-world examples, a few rants, and some solid advice for those navigating this evolving landscape. Whether you’re curious about what’s next or skeptical of the hype, this episode offers valuable insights and a few laughs along the wa...
Apr 01, 2025•32 min•Season 5Ep. 2
In this episode of Chax Chat , Chad Chelius and Dax Castro tackle some of the most common challenges in document accessibility. From overlooked tagging issues to the hidden complexities of tables and lists, they break down key remediation strategies that can save you time and frustration. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this conversation is packed with practical tips to help you create compliant, user-friendly PDFs. So sit back, grab your favorite mug of whatever, and let’s g...
Feb 06, 2025•37 min•Season 5Ep. 1
This is really a trick question. In this episode we discuss how to answer the question "What is the one tool you use for accessibility?" Chad and Dax start out by discussing the merits of getting an accessibility certification and then move on to talk about a couple of new scripts that are currently on their website. Specifically one that helps hide and show items in the Adobe InDesign Articles panel. Chad drops a pro-tip on the ROI of purchasing the right tools to speed up your production time ...
Jul 17, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 17
They say the best way to learn a language is by working with a native speaker, and learning Assistive Technology is no different. We are thrilled to have Kristen Witucki from Tamman Inc join us today on Chax Chat to talk about her experience as a native assistive technology user. Kristen walks us through the way she uses NVDA and JAWS, her setting preferences, and how the use of this technology affects her day to day life. Kristen works with Tamman Inc both as an Assistive Technology Communicati...
May 25, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Effective use of alt text, actual text, extended descriptions, and captions are essential for helping the users of accessibility tools read the document the way you intended. Most documents contain more than words alone. Graphics, graphs, photos, and even stylized formats are used to enhance the reader experience. But oftentimes, these visual elements disrupt or even create a barrier for users of AT. In today’s episode of Chax Chat, Chad Chelius and Dax Castro discuss some of the pitfalls and ba...
May 18, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Today on Chax Chat we talk about designing with accessibility in mind. Creating an accessibility-first mindset is essential to the success of creating documents that maximize accessibility from the start and avoid the time drain of accessibility at the end or redoing the work when the inevitable last-minute change comes. Join Chad Chelius and Dax Castro as they break down Designing accessible trifolds Implementing accessible QR codes Captions Table of Contents, and; Reasons to avoid Drop Caps...
May 09, 2024•32 min
Adobe InDesign offers several features to manage the tags and content of your document for accessibility, but not all panes are built the same! In today’s episode of Chax Chat, we are going to explore all three of these windows, the benefits and purposes they serve, and when or when not to use them. Today we will be defining assistive technology, unraveling the tags pane, the order panel, and the content pane. We will also be defining assistive technology and learning more about how to work with...
Apr 30, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Microsoft Word is said to be one of the best applications for making accessible documents, but how true is that claim? There are a lot of practices that designers use that set them back while working within Word. Join Chad Chelius and Dax Castro as they talk about some of the most common issues document creators encounter when working within this application, best rules to follow to avoid those issues, and how to remediate your document when issues arise. Listen in and learn why you should use c...
Apr 23, 2024•37 min
Learn our favorite tips, tricks, and shortcuts to creating accessible documents in Indesign! Every application has hidden secrets, some so good you wish you knew them sooner. Join Chad Chelius and Dax Castro as they share their experiences behind these shortcuts, how they found them, and how each tip can help you become a quicker, more proficient document accessibility expert. In this episode, we will cover how to name and outline heading levels, adding styles to headers, editing all export tags...
Apr 16, 2024•37 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Avoiding a lawsuit is as easy as implementing accessibility correctly the first time. But as many of us know, we still aren’t quite there yet. There is a lot of work that needs to be done if we are going to truly have an internet that is accessible to everyone. Many businesses and public entities offer services, products, and information that everyone needs access to, regardless of their ability, and sometimes it feels that a lawsuit is the only way to jumpstart that process. To get an inside lo...
Apr 09, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 9
“Automation does not guarantee compliance!” is the inspiration behind today’s episode. Here at CHAX Accessibility Training. Accessibility Checkers are one such tool. They check for particular issues, but just because a checker does not flag accessibility issues does not mean your documents are compliant. Today we are going to unravel the 7 things that Fail Accessibility but will pass your Checker! Passing the PAC Checker or Acrobat Checker is only the first step to remediating a document. Once y...
Apr 02, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 7
There is no doubt that the subject of accessibility and remediation can be a confusing landscape for those just starting out in this wonderful industry. Today, we tackle part two of our Top Ten Questions in accessibility and remediation! Some of these answers might surprise you, as we both learned something new in this episode, too. We discover new tools, like PDFix, review our top applications, discuss some of the oddities in the industry, and so much more. Whether you are new to document remed...
Mar 27, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Understanding how people use accessibility technology is essential to creating accessible media. In this episode, Chad Chelius and Dax Castro dive into the 2024 WebAIM “Screen Reader User Survey #10 Results” to get an inside look on who uses screen reading tools, and where they use them. They cover age, location, favorite reader, and more. Even though we are exploring a relatively small sample size, the information here is invaluable. So sit back, grab your favorite drink, and get our take on th...
Mar 12, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In this episode Chad Chelius and Dax Castro discuss what it means to understand the user experience of a screen reader as well as accessibility technology at large. Creating documents and digital media has its challenges, but what if your product does not respond the way you expect it to? Learn about how to adapt your understanding to the end user experience in today's episode. We are also excited to share two new A11y terms just for you! Introducing Chax-ified and Chax-essible! Other topics we ...
Mar 05, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In this episode, we unravel nested tag structures. Chad and Dax break down lists, TOC, footnotes, and tables. Learn what the most basic way to create a list structure is and how Dax had to hit the books once again to make sure he wasn't telling tales. Chad talks about footnotes and references and why you might hear "Link Link" in your TOC elements. If you struggle to understand which tags get nested inside others, then you definitely want to listen to this episode!
Feb 22, 2024•46 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode, we interview Kelly Swanson and Sherri Smith from the Center for Schools and Communities to understand how Sheri was able to initiate interest in document accessibility and start a successful document accessibility program within their organization. Kelly shared key insights from a manager's perspective that can help others in their quest to implement accessibility at a program level.
Feb 06, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In this episode, Dax Castro and Chad Chelius talk about the troubles with creating QR codes and reveal the common mistakes people make when trying to make them accessible. They show you how to create them, how to set the placement correctly, and what your options are when it comes to making accessible QR codes for your documents. Chad even shows how you can use InDesign to make your QR codes right in the program. If you struggle with accessible QR codes definitely tune into this episode!
Jan 26, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In this final episode for 2023 we look back at the most frequently asked questions by people just starting out in document accessibility. We also dropped a major announcement about the future of Chax Training and Consulting. So you definitely don't want to miss this episode. Top 5 Questions: Do Span Tags Matter? Do Container Tags Matter? How Long Should Alt-text Be? Can I have more than one H1 in my document? What is the difference between deleting a tag and artifacting one? If you felt like we ...
Dec 29, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 32
In this episode, Chad and Dax discuss the merits of having form fields inside tables. When is it okay? When should you avoid tables as a means of laying out accessible form-based documents? Listen in and you will learn what to ask and how to determine if it is okay to put your form in a table. We also take a quick look at the new PAC 2024 interface and our thoughts on the new release.
Dec 08, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 31
You have heard us mention Venngage a few times and have featured it on our podcast. Now we thought it would be great to invite Venngage CEO, Eugene Woo on the program to talk about is journey in creating this accessible online design tool. We talk about the struggles and costs of going down the road of accessibility but more importantly, the cost of NOT going down that path. Eugene also discusses how they took the opportunity to teach unfamiliar users about accessibility as they create their doc...
Oct 09, 2023•35 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Chad and Dax take this session to talk about the possibility of having too much accessibility in the form of multiple patterns in pie charts. They discuss the merits of several approaches to making pie charts visually more accessible. Stick around to hear them give out some secret sauce for troubleshooting tables that just don't seem to want to pass accessibility. Their tip might just save you hours of needlessly hunting for the mislabeled property. Oh, and if you want to skip the koi pond bante...
Oct 06, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Are you using accessible color contrast and colorblind-friendly designs? Chad answers the question: "Does it really Matter if I make my designs colorblind compliant?" Learn some important colorblind statistics and find out who needs to make their designs accessible? We share some things you can do to make your graphic colors accessible and review the WCAG success criteria 1.4.1 Use of Color. Dax gives you some easy ways to make your maps more accessible and Chad shares the color contrast ratio f...
Sep 20, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Senior UX Researcher, Inclusive Designer and Accessibility Design Lead Sonya Lewis agrees to be our guest this week to talk about how the Reading Order in PDFs impacts her ability to apply for heathcare enrollement, participate in her workplace and overall online presence. Chad and I loved her response when we asked the question "What do you say to people who think the Reading Order in PDFs doesn't really matter?" Be sure to listen in to hear Chad ask an important question about Snoop Dogg and h...
Sep 12, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 26
We stumbled on to an online design tool that is giving Canva a run for their money. We show you our first impressions about the product and the accessibility features it has and a few ways we might suggest improving it. We also reveal the new EASY way to set the PDF/UA Identifier in Adobe Acrobat. Dax mentions the upcoming guest and their struggles with reading order in PDF documents. Finally, Chad reveals some insights on Form Tags: Before or after the text label?
Sep 05, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 25
