This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Teneo Linguistics Company Tackles PDF Accessibility
Teneo Linguistics Company, LLC (“Teneo”) offers complete language solutions, customizable translation services, and interpreting to organizations worldwide. As part of its commitment to comprehensive communication services, Teneo is broadening its offering of accessibility tagging and remediation services for client PDF documents. Sarah Sanchez, Graphic Designer & DTP Specialist, and Nick Matthews, Translation Team Lead and Senior Project Manager share their experiences and insights on implementing Equidox as a PDF accessibility solution. “Translation IS accessibility. Accessible PDFs are another way to enable communication for our clients,” said Nick Matthews, “It’s something we want to offer.”
The Challenge of PDF Accessibility
The PDF is a ubiquitous format for sharing and archiving information due to its consistent appearance across devices and platforms. However, they pose significant challenges to accessibility, particularly for individuals using screen readers or other assistive technologies. Ensuring that PDFs are accessible involves correctly tagging document elements, providing alt text for images, and ensuring proper reading order, which can be time-consuming and complex.
A Growing Need for Accessible PDFs
Teneo recognized the growing demand for accessible PDFs, particularly from its government and education clients. This demand sparked an internal conversation about a robust solution that was faster and more usable than their existing manual PDF accessibility solution for the team. With the right tool, Teneo could offer clients full translation services, including accessible documents.
Discovering Equidox
After a thorough search for a robust PDF accessibility solution, Teneo turned to Equidox. Equidox offers a comprehensive PDF remediation platform that simplifies the process of making PDFs accessible. Leveraging advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence, Equidox automatically tags complex PDF elements such as lists and tables and ensures they meet accessibility guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Section 508.
Implementing Equidox
Implementing this new PDF accessibility solution was fast and easy. One of the reasons Teneo appreciates Equidox is the ease of use and the ability to quickly train team members to use the tool. “Equidox is quick to learn, easy to teach other people,” said Sarah Sanchez. “And that was a big plus for me because we had projects already rolling in and it was easy to catch on to… we figured it out within a few days of working with it.”
A standout feature of Equidox is its ability to automate much of the tagging process. Using machine learning algorithms, Equidox automatically identifies and quickly tags elements within the PDF, such as headings, lists, tables, and images. This automation significantly reduces the manual effort required and ensures a higher level of accuracy and consistency. It also increases the speed at which documents can be remediated, allowing for expanded services with fewer team members.
Teneo also loves the user-friendly interface that Equidox provides. This interface is designed with novice users in mind, making it usable for all employees within the organization, even those without prior experience in PDF remediation.
Additionally, Equidox offers ongoing support and free training to ensure that Teneo staff are fully equipped to use the tool effectively. This includes webinars, tutorial videos, and personalized training sessions. The responsive support team is always available to address questions or issues, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted operation.
Teneo’s favorite feature of Equidox is Zone Transfer, which allows users to copy tags from one nearly identical document to another, saving time and effort remediating. Because Teneo often translates documents into multiple languages in multiple PDF documents, this feature is a game-changer for them. “Equidox allows us to process increased quantity at the same quality,” said Sarah Sanchez.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Teneo plans to leverage Equidox as a PDF accessibility solution to maintain and enhance its accessibility efforts. They continue to explore the features and functionalities Equidox offers to streamline their processes further and ensure they stay ahead of evolving accessibility standards.
Equidox’s commitment to innovation and improvement aligns with Teneo’s goals of maintaining high accessibility standards and providing accessible documents to their clients along with their existing translation services. As regulations and legislation evolve, Teneo is confident that Equidox will continue to be a vital partner in the accessibility journey for themselves and their clients.
Equidox Enables Expanded Services and Inclusion
Teneo’s accessibility journey illustrates the transformative impact that Equidox can have on PDF accessibility efforts. By automating complex remediation tasks, providing a user-friendly interface, and offering continuous support, Equidox has enabled Teneo Linguistics Company, LLC to achieve compliance, improve efficiency, and provide their clients with expanded and necessary PDF accessibility services. Teneo’s use case highlights the importance of proactive and innovative solutions in addressing accessibility challenges and underscores the critical role that Equidox plays in helping organizations provide inclusive digital content.
Tammy Albee
Tammy Albee | Director of Marketing | Equidox Tammy joined Equidox after four years of experience working at the National Federation of the Blind. She firmly maintains that accessibility is about reaching everyone, regardless of ability, and boosting your market share in the process. "Nobody should be barred from accessing information. It's what drives our modern society."