PDFs are everywhere. From bank statements to annual reports, they’re the go-to format for sharing information in a clean, professional way. But have you ever thought about how accessible they are? For millions of people with disabilities, PDFs can feel like locked doors, impossible to navigate without the right keys.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), whose mission is to protect investors, ensure fair and efficient markets, and promote public trust in the financial system, is now requiring that Tailored Shareholder Reports (TSRs) be accessible. This mandate is a wake-up call for the financial world, highlighting the urgent need for inclusivity in how vital information is shared. Here’s why PDF accessibility matters and how TSRs are driving the change.

The Problem with PDFs

PDFs are great for preserving formatting and presenting complex information like tables, charts, and images, but they often fail when it comes to accessibility. Without proper tagging, screen readers can’t interpret the content, leaving people with visual impairments unable to navigate essential documents. Features like graphs and tables are often unlabelled, and the reading order can feel disorganised without careful structuring. For those relying on assistive technology, PDFs can be less of a solution and more of a barrier.

Why Accessibility Is No Longer Optional

Accessibility isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore. Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act require that digital content, including PDFs, be accessible. Failing to make documents accessible can land institutions in hot water. Think lawsuits, reputational damage, and hefty fines. 

But it’s not just about avoiding penalties—it’s about levelling the playing field. Everyone deserves equal access to essential information, whether it’s a tax form, a utility bill or a shareholder report.

What is a TSR and Why Should You Care?

A TSR is a personalised, straightforward document that tells you how your investment in a mutual fund or ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is performing, without the complexities. Think of it as a cheat sheet for your finances.
Here’s what a TSR includes:
•    How the fund is performing: Are you making money, breaking even or losing out?
•    What it costs you: A clear breakdown of fees and expenses.
•    Where your money is going: The stocks, bonds or other assets your fund is invested in.
•    What the fund’s goals are: A simple explanation of what the fund is trying to achieve.
It’s all the essential information in one place, cutting out pages of jargon. The issue is that these documents are often in PDF format and are not always accessible to everyone.

Why the SEC is Stepping In

The SEC has recognised the accessibility challenges associated with PDFs and updated its rules to ensure Tailored Shareholder Reports (TSRs) are both digital and accessible. The objective is straightforward: to guarantee that every investor, regardless of ability, can access their financial information equally and independently. 

Making PDFs accessible, however, is far from a simple task. TSRs often include complex charts, tables, and graphs that must be carefully labelled and organised to work with screen readers. Addressing these accessibility issues manually, particularly for institutions producing hundreds of reports, is both time-consuming and inefficient, calling for more scalable solutions.

How Financial Companies Can Keep Up

Creating documents accessible doesn’t have to be a logistical nightmare. Automating the process is key to efficiency and compliance. Tools and services are available to help financial firms handle tasks like tagging charts, structuring logical reading orders, and labelling data elements—critical for making accessible PDFs. By automating these tasks, companies can save time, reduce costs, and minimise the risk of errors.

Beyond compliance, accessibility demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, building trust with clients who can independently access their documents. Inclusivity isn’t just ethical; it’s good business. Clients who feel respected and valued are more likely to stay loyal and recommend your services, giving your company a competitive edge in today’s market.

Is Your PDF Compliance on Track?

With increasing regulatory demands like the SEC's accessibility requirements for Tailored Shareholder Reports (TSRs), ensuring your PDFs are accessible is no longer optional—it’s essential. If your financial institution is ready to make accessibility a priority, AAAnow.ai can help. Let us help you navigate this challenge efficiently and effectively.

Request Your PDF Asset Audit Today

Discover exactly where your digital documents stand with our detailed PDF Asset Audit. Our comprehensive analysis provides:
•    A Summary of Your PDFs: Total documents, tagging, and linearization status.
•    Broken Links: Identify inaccessible PDFs and their sources.
•    Accessibility Status: Measure compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards.
•    Duplicate Files: Detect multiple instances of the same PDF.
•    Email Issues: Spot badly formed or non-functional email links.
•    MS Office Documents: Includes an audit of Word, Excel, and other office files linked to your site.

Why Choose Our PDF Asset Audit?

Our audit is designed to simplify compliance and improve user accessibility. Here’s what you get: 

•    SMARTVIEW Insights: Access every document through a SMARTVIEW link for easy review. The SMARTVIEW browser plug-in lets you test single web pages on demand—whether during the publishing process or on a live page. You can check for accessibility, SEO, broken links, spelling, performance, and more, all with a single click.
•    Warnings: Receive alerts for non-tagged or truncated files that could affect compliance.
•    Actionable Steps: Get clear, practical guidance to address compliance gaps and ensure your documents meet required standards.

Take Action Now

Ensure your digital content is accessible and compliant. Request your free PDF Asset Audit today to gain a clear understanding of your content’s accessibility status and compliance with regulatory standards. 

Explore a detailed example to see how our audit can help you identify gaps and improve compliance: https://secure.sitemorse.com/d/Asset-29Mar2022-1423-www-examplebank.xlsx

For more information or to get started, contact Laura Shilstone, Chief of Staff at AAAnow.ai directly at: lshilstone@aaanow.ai

Don’t wait—take the first step towards improved accessibility and inclusivity now!