Braille Works

09/03/2026

The same healthcare information can be accessible in very different ways.

One person may need large print. Another may use braille, audio, or an accessible PDF with a screen reader.

Section 1557 requires effective communication when someone needs accessible aids or services. That means the format should work for the person receiving the information.

Accessible communication starts with usable information.

Learn more in our blog post, Section 1557: Understanding Document Accessibility Requirements.

09/03/2026

Accessible healthcare communication starts with one question: What format works for this person?

For one person, that may be large print. For another, it may be braille, audio, or an accessible PDF.

Section 1557 requires covered healthcare organizations to provide appropriate aids and services when needed for effective communication. A single format won’t work for everyone.

The goal is simple: give people information they can actually use.

Here's what healthcare professionals and patients need to know about Section 1557 of the ACA's document accessibility requirements.

09/01/2026

Your PDF can look perfectly readable and still be inaccessible.

That’s because assistive technology doesn’t rely on the visual page layer. It depends on the document’s underlying content, tags, and reading order.

If those pieces aren’t set up correctly, a clean-looking PDF can still be difficult or impossible to navigate.

Read more in our blog post, What Is an Accessible PDF?

09/01/2026

Accessible PDFs aren’t only about screen readers.

People with low vision may read the document visually, which means font choice, contrast, and other design decisions matter too.

Good PDF accessibility considers both the information people see and the structure technology reads.

Did you know that what you see in a PDF isn’t all that’s there? PDFs have layers and an accessible PDF needs the right info in those layers.

08/27/2026

Can AI make a PDF accessible?

It can help. But it shouldn’t do the whole job alone.

AI may add tags or suggest reading order, yet still miss the meaning of an image, misunderstand a table, or make a form confusing to complete.

When that document contains healthcare information, benefits, legal notices, or emergency instructions, those mistakes matter.

Human review helps make sure accessible information is actually understandable and usable.

Learn more in our blog post, National ADA Symposium Takeaway #3: AI Can Assist with Document Remediation. Human Review Protects Independence.

08/27/2026

AI can add alternative text.

But does that description explain what the image actually means?

That difference is easy to overlook. An accessibility feature can technically exist and still fail the person who needs it.

Qualified human review looks beyond whether the pieces are there. A person can determine whether the information is accurate, understandable, and usable with assistive technology.

That’s what protects independence, and why human review is critical.

AI can assist with document remediation, but it shouldn't verify the whole process without a qualified human being involved.

08/25/2026

If a document meets WCAG, does that mean it meets Section 508?

That question comes up a lot, and the answer starts with understanding what each term actually means.

They’re connected. They serve different roles.

Read our simple breakdown, 508 and WCAG: What’s the Difference?

08/25/2026

What’s the difference between Section 508 and WCAG?

They’re closely connected, but they aren’t the same thing.

Section 508 is a federal accessibility law. WCAG is a set of guidelines used for making digital content accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 uses WCAG criteria as part of its accessibility requirements.

Did you know that 508 and WCAG are two different things? It's a common mistake, but there are actually some key differences between the two.

08/20/2026

Tomorrow is National Senior Citizens Day!

Older adults are an important part of our communities and our economy. Baby Boomers alone have trillions in buying power and hold more than half of the nation’s wealth.

As we age, changes in vision can make everyday tasks like reading a menu, statement, or healthcare document more difficult.

Large print can make those moments easier. It gives people a clearer, more comfortable way to read information and make decisions independently.

Celebrating older adults also means thinking about whether the information around them is easy to use.

Learn more in our blog post, Age-Related Vision Problems & Your Customers.

08/20/2026

Tomorrow is National Senior Citizens Day.

It’s a good time to ask a practical question: Can you read the information organizations send?

Vision often changes with age. Small print on statements, menus, healthcare information, and other important documents can become difficult to use.

Requesting properly formatted large print or another accessible format gives you a clearer, more independent way to access the information you need.

Age-related vision problems will eventually affect everyone. Some people are more affected than others, but as we age, our visual acuity declines.