Accessible PDF draft standard out for Public Comment

The BSI are asking for public comment on the forthcoming standard on accessible PDF, commonly known as PDF/UA. Comments must be submitted by 30 April 2011.

The standard is officially known as ISO 14298-1 (Document management applications – Electronic document file format enhancement for accessibility – Part 1: Use of ISO 32000-1).

In the introduction it says: The primary purpose of ISO 14289, known as PDF/UA, is to define how to represent electronic documents in the PDF format in a manner that allows the file to be accessible. This is accomplished by identifying the set of PDF components that may be used and restrictions on the form of their use. PDF/UA is intended as a companion standard; to be used in conjunction with ISO 32000, ISO 19005, ISO 15930, and other standards as may apply for the purpose of achieving accessibility or as mandated by this international standard.

Anyone interested in accessible PDF should review and comment on this document. To access the document go to http://drafts.bsigroup.com/ register and log in, then look for document ISO DIS 14289-1.