Accessibility Statement
Our commitment to creating accessible PDF forms and an accessible editor
Last updated: February 2026
Exported PDF Accessibility
FormGenius exports PDFs with comprehensive accessibility features conforming to PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1) and WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. Every exported PDF includes:
- Tagged Structure Tree: All elements (headings, paragraphs, images, form fields) are tagged with their semantic role using PDF structure tree with StructTreeRoot, marked content (BDC/EMC), and object references (OBJR)
- PDF/UA Conformance: XMP metadata declares PDF/UA (pdfuaid:part=1) conformance, enabling assistive technologies to identify the document as accessible
- Document Language: The PDF catalog includes a /Lang entry (BCP 47 language tag) for correct screen reader pronunciation. Users can select from 12 languages during project setup
- Image Alt Text: Images are tagged as Figure structure elements with /Alt text attributes, embedded directly in the PDF structure tree
- Heading Hierarchy: Headings are tagged as H1-H6 structure elements, maintaining semantic document structure for screen readers and navigation
- Form Field Labels: Interactive form fields (text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, dropdowns, date fields) are tagged as Form elements with associated label text
- Reading Order: The structure tree follows the visual reading order (top-to-bottom, left-to-right) established in the editor
- Decorative Content: Watermarks and decorative elements are marked as Artifact, ensuring screen readers skip non-meaningful content
- Keyboard Navigation: PDF form fields support native keyboard navigation in all major PDF readers (Adobe Reader, Foxit, browser viewers)
Accessibility Wizard
FormGenius includes a dedicated accessibility wizard with five specialised tabs to help you create compliant forms before export:
- Heading Hierarchy: Visual tree view of your document's heading structure with warnings for skipped levels and incorrect starting hierarchy
- Alt Text Manager: Interface to add descriptive alt text to all images, with character counting, visual previews, and completion status indicators
- Tab Order Manager: Visual tab order editor to review and confirm the keyboard navigation sequence across all pages
- Colour Contrast Checker: Per-element contrast ratio analysis against WCAG 1.4.3 (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text), with colour swatches and pass/fail indicators
- Compliance Report: Domain-based accessibility report broken down by PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1), WCAG 2.2 Level AA, and Colour Contrast (WCAG 1.4.3), with per-item pass/fail status and exportable text report
Editor Accessibility (This Website)
We are committed to making the FormGenius editor itself accessible. The following features have been implemented to support keyboard and assistive technology users:
- Keyboard Navigation: All canvas operations (selecting, moving, resizing, duplicating, deleting elements) can be performed via keyboard shortcuts (see table below)
- Skip Link: A "Skip to canvas" link is provided for keyboard users to bypass the header and sidebars
- ARIA Attributes: The canvas uses
role="application"with descriptive labels. All canvas elements havearia-label,aria-selected, androle="button"attributes - Live Announcements: An
aria-liveregion announces element selections, movements, deletions, and other state changes to screen readers - Focus Indicators: Visible focus rings on the canvas and all interactive elements for keyboard users
- Semantic HTML: Proper heading hierarchy,
<main>,<aside>,<header>, and form elements with associated labels throughout the application - Accessible Dialogs: All modal dialogs use Radix UI primitives with proper focus trapping, titles, and descriptions
- Dark Mode: Full light, dark, and system-preference theming — meeting WCAG 1.4.3 contrast requirements in both modes
Keyboard Shortcuts
The following keyboard shortcuts are available in the form editor. On macOS, use Cmd in place of Ctrl.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Tab | Select next element on canvas (when canvas is focused) |
| Shift + Tab | Select previous element on canvas |
| Arrow Keys | Move selected element(s) by grid size (default 5mm) |
| Shift + Arrow Keys | Move selected element(s) by 1mm (fine positioning) |
| Escape | Clear selection and return focus to canvas |
| Delete / Backspace | Delete selected element(s) |
| Ctrl + A | Select all elements on current page |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate selected element(s) |
| Ctrl + Click | Toggle multi-selection (add/remove element from selection) |
| Ctrl + Scroll | Zoom canvas in/out |
| Double Click | Edit heading or paragraph text inline |
Important: No Guarantee of Compliance
FormGenius DOES NOT warrant, guarantee, or certify that forms created with our tool will be compliant with WCAG, PDF/UA, Section 508, ADA, or any other accessibility standards or legal requirements.
While we implement PDF/UA tagged structure trees, XMP metadata, and WCAG 2.2 Level AA automated checks, our tool cannot verify all aspects of accessibility compliance. Many critical requirements depend on your content, context, and proper implementation.
The accessibility score and report are PROVIDED AS GUIDANCE ONLY, not as certification or legal compliance verification.
Your Responsibilities
As the form creator, YOU are solely responsible for ensuring your forms meet applicable accessibility standards and legal requirements. This includes:
1. Content Quality
Ensure all text content, field labels, instructions, and error messages are clear, concise, and understandable for your audience. Use plain language where possible.
2. Testing with Assistive Technologies
Test your PDFs with actual screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver) and keyboard-only navigation. Automated checks cannot replicate real user experiences with assistive technologies.
3. Logical Structure Verification
Verify that heading levels, tab order, and reading order make sense for your specific form's purpose and content. What works technically may not work practically.
4. Colour Contrast
Use the contrast checker tab in the accessibility wizard to verify text colours meet WCAG 1.4.3 requirements (4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text). FormGenius checks this automatically but the choice of colours is yours.
5. Context-Specific Requirements
Consider your specific audience, industry regulations (healthcare, government, education), and jurisdictional requirements. Accessibility standards vary by context and location.
6. Professional Review for Critical Forms
For forms with legal, financial, or critical implications, consult with qualified accessibility professionals for compliance verification. FormGenius is a tool, not a substitute for professional accessibility consulting.
Known Limitations
While we strive for comprehensive accessibility, the following limitations exist:
Exported PDFs
- •Font embedding: PDF exports use standard PDF fonts (Helvetica, Times Roman, Courier) rather than embedding custom fonts, which may affect visual fidelity
- •PDF reader variations: Different PDF readers may interpret tagged structure and form fields differently. We recommend testing in Adobe Reader, Foxit, and browser-based viewers
- •Cannot verify content quality: We check technical aspects but cannot determine if your text is clear, concise, or appropriate for your audience
Editor
- •Drag-and-drop reordering: The sidebar element list and tab order manager use drag-to-reorder which does not yet have a keyboard alternative. Keyboard users can use the canvas Tab key to cycle elements instead
- •Resize via keyboard: Element resizing currently requires mouse interaction with the corner handle. Keyboard users can set precise dimensions via the properties panel
Standards We Follow
FormGenius targets compliance with the following accessibility standards:
PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1)
The international standard for universally accessible PDF documents. Our exports include tagged structure trees, XMP metadata conformance declaration, document language, and proper artifact marking.
WCAG 2.2 Level AA
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, applied to both exported PDFs and the editor itself. We check heading hierarchy, form labels, target sizes, tab order, required field indicators, and keyboard accessibility.
WCAG 1.4.3 Colour Contrast (AA)
Minimum contrast ratios of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (18px+ or 14px+ bold), checked automatically per-element against the page background colour.
Certifications & Awards
FormGenius has been assessed and certified for accessibility compliance.
WCAG 2.2 Level AA
Certified by 3rd Sector Tech as of 12/02/26.
Disability Confident
Committed to inclusive employment and accessibility.
Our Commitment
While we cannot guarantee compliance, we are committed to:
- Continuously improving both PDF export accessibility and editor accessibility
- Following PDF/UA (ISO 14289-1) and WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards
- Being transparent about what we check, what we implement, and what requires your manual verification
- Providing honest, domain-specific compliance reporting rather than false promises
- Documenting known limitations openly and addressing them in future updates
Questions or Feedback?
If you encounter any accessibility barriers using FormGenius, or have questions about this statement, please review our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. We welcome accessibility feedback to help us improve.
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