Create 508 compliant (accessible?) forms from MS word 2007

Much depends upon just how the PDF was created.
Good tag management of Word files is available via PDFMaker; but, it pre-supposes proper "style" usage in Word using, in some case, the built-in Word styles in a manner that establishes a clean, logical hierarchy. If the source MS Word file isn't "right" there will be problems in the output PDF.

If PDF output is as an untagged PDF then "make accessible" with Acrobat gets one started.
However, this is a programmatic "best-estimate" and not a finished, smooth deliverable.
Manual cleanup is still required.

If Acrobat's form recognition is applied you have another programmatic "best-estimate".
If the second "best-estimate" is dropped on the first "best-estimate" that has not been smoothed & buffed you have problems.The form "layer" needs to integrated into a solid, well-formed tagged PDF. Then cleanup the form specifics to establish their proper order, altenate text descriptions, etc From the Tags panel Options menu you may have to select the tag annotations choice. Check and groom each annotation for correctness. Expect to spend some time in the structure tree.

Unless there has been a change I've missed, dynamic LifeCycle Designer forms have to become static before you can manually groom for accessbility.

It may be useful to look through the AUC's Acrobat Forms and LifeCycle Designer forums.
As well, the AUC Learning Center has a generous inventory of information on forms.

Use Acrobat's reflow (Ctrl+4). Use TORU & the Order panel to assess read order. Save As to accessible text to assess read order. Is the expected present? Use Preflight Custom checks to assess some of the fundamentals associated with structured PDF.Be well...

Is there someone you can recommend that can do this for us, on a per project sub-contractor / freelancer basis? We are a translation agency in Dallas.

My apology, but all I can offer you is some general observations.
For "industrial strength" you could look to appligent-document solutions or netcentric.
Both have expertise vis-a-via accessible PDF.

Small shop or freelance is always attractive. However, there can be a down side.
If the client (you) does not have a reasonable understanding of what the task involves
and of how, in a general way, things must be done then you may get what you
paid for but not what you "need".


Always useful to have any prospects provide a dog & pony show of actual work done.Just some nattering on my part; but, for the long haul, it might be worth developing
a relationship with some or all of the below.
These groups often have a good working knowledge of some or all of what you need.
Also, you may be able to establish an arrangement whereby someone can put the PDFs
through their paces with a screen reader (such as Jaws or Eyes).
It may be that the local chamber of commerce already has some connections that could be of help.

--| The local University of Texas campus in Dallas.

--| Schools for the blind such as the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Austin.

--| The Dallas chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.


Regardless, a good or poor product will most likely be associated with you so it may be useful to
develop a fundamental knowledge/understanding of accessible PDF/PDF forms so you know
what to put in the contract and what to look for.

While much about accessible PDF at dot EDUs and dot GOVs tends to be "stale"
(& sometimes somewhat "off") there are those that are current & on the target.A fundamental walk through, based on usage of Acrobat 9.0, for making a form accessible.
[url]http://www.accesselearning.net/mod8/8_17.php#content[/url]

And another -
[url]http://teachingcommons.cdl.edu/access/docs_multi/pdf_vid_tut/PDFVideoTutorialHome.shtml[/url]

Be well...

I have Two years experience remediating PDFs that were converted from a Word source document. This process is PDF remediation. I can furnish my resume, samples of my work, and a letter of reference fom my boss if you request these by phone 682-518-8487 or Email: JRB6478 [at] CHARTER [dot] NET.I will greatly appreciate your contact,
JOHN BASKETTE

ABBYY PDF Transformer can handle PDF>Word conversion. Accessibility remediation should be done within Word.

I agree with the first part especially with the "manual tagging" Acrobat cannot TAG THE ENTIRE PDF and make it 100% Accessible that is where manual remediation is required. Adobe's AUTO TAG doesn't always insert proper tags. For example it tags Tables as Figures.


Thanks,
John R. Baskette 682-518-8487
501 Kingsway #102, Mansfield, TX 76063
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/MIS
JRB6478 [at] CHARTER [dot] NET
Document Remediation Specialist & Website UET,
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/MIS.
The University of Texas, Arlington