Adobe Acrobat Pro
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Adobe Acrobat Pro


Tool Type

Accessibility Tools, Reading

Who Uses It?

Instructors, Staff

Tags

AI Capable, IT Approved



Difficulty

Intermediate

Accessibility Info

Adobe Acrobat Pro has limited accessibility when using its PDF Accessibility Editing features due to a continued reliance on drag-and-drop functionality. Accessibility features are often not preserved when transitioning PDFs to other formats. The "New Experience" interface has introduced more severe "Meaningful Sequence" failures, where screen readers skip static informational content or read it out of order across most tool panes. Additionally, many buttons and custom radio buttons still lack programmatic names, roles, or state information (such as "checked/unchecked").

Certain screens, including "Edit: Links" and "Prepare Form," rely solely on color to convey information. Widespread contrast issues now affect nearly all tools in the 2025 update; text and focus indicators in areas like "Acrobat Home," "Add a Stamp," and "Send for Signature" frequently fail to meet minimum standards. 

Functionality loss remains a critical issue when zooming to 200%. Screens such as “Adobe Sign / Send for Signatures,” “Compress a PDF,” and “Redact a PDF” do not reflow properly, causing controls to disappear or become unusable. Finally, the AI Assistant and Generative Summary tools do not currently support high-magnification use cases or provide proper labels for speech-input users.

Tool Description

Adobe Acrobat Pro is a comprehensive digital tool designed to streamline PDF editing and remediation, enhance accessibility, and simplify PDF navigation. Acrobat Pro enables users to effortlessly convert scanned documents into searchable and editable PDFs, ensuring accessibility compliance. Its suite of accessibility tools empowers users to create documents that accommodate diverse needs, including text-to-speech conversion and customizable reading options. Additionally, its intuitive navigation tools facilitate seamless document browsing, allowing users to efficiently locate and navigate through content. Overall, Adobe Acrobat Pro offers essential functionalities tailored to enhance productivity and accessibility.



Cost/Licenses

Provided by the College to Employees

How to Get or Use This Tool

Lane employees can get access and have Adobe Acrobat Pro installed on their Lane devices by contacting the IT helpdesk.


Platforms

Mac OS, Window OS, Chrome OS, Linux, Mobile

Tool Resources

Pros

  • Comprehensive PDF Editing
  • Enhanced Security Features for Forms and Signatures
  • Robust PDF Conversion
  • Able to Create Accessible PDFs

Cons

  • Steep Learning Curve
  • Limited Mobile Functionality
  • Dependency on Adobe Ecosystem

Privacy

View Privacy Information

Similar Tools

Nitro PDF Pro, PDF24 Creator, Faucet PDF Editor

Supported By

Academic Technology Center (ATC) - atc@lanecc.edu, IT Help Desk - helpdesk@lanecc.edu
Last Updated: 12/19/2025 - 14:55

Your Responsibilities


As a user of our Digital Tool Hub, it is your responsibility to use software in a manner that aligns with Lane's policies and standards. This includes protecting college resources and data by ensuring compliance with relevant policies, storing sensitive information in approved systems, and facilitating equitable access for all users, including those with disabilities.

You are individually accountable for any software installed on your devices and must adhere to the terms and conditions of software licenses. While we strive to provide support for a wide range of applications, please note that some may not be directly supported by the college. All software usage is subject to our policies, and you must review our guidelines on software procurement and licensing compliance. The college cannot be held liable for damages resulting from the installation or use of software obtained through our hub. We appreciate your cooperation in respecting copyright laws and using digital tools responsibly.

Relevant Policies:


Know of another tool used at Lane for education? Let us know by filling out this form and we can review it for the Digital Tool Hub!

Have any questions? Contact us at DigitalToolHub@lanecc.edu.

Accessible is defined as:

When considering the use of a digital tool with students in a classroom, prioritizing accessibility is essential. Accessibility is assessed through compliance with WCAG 2.0 standards. All softwares, where the primary user is students, in the Digital Tool Hub are accessible. Keep in mind there some exceptions due to the nature of the various types of software. The If a software is level of partial accessibility are outlined on each tool's page if a tool is partially accessible.

  • What is a VPAT: A Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) is a document that explains how information and communication technology products such as software, hardware, electronic content, and support documentation meet the Revised 508 Standards for IT accessibility. Check out Sonoma State University's article and learn how to read a VPAT.

How are the tags defined:

Tags can be changed at any time, so check in regularly for any software changes, recommendations, approval, etc.

Tags are defined as follows:

  • Recommended by ATC: This is a tool recommended by the Academic Technology Center (ATC) for faculty to use for its intended purposes.
  • IT Approved: The tool has been fully vetted for cybersecurity.
  • AI Ready:AI features are already available and can be used immediately. Users can enable or disable them without additional purchases or administrative intervention.
  • AI Capable:The software includes AI functionality that is not currently active. These features may require activation by Lane, a settings change, or a separate license/purchase.
  • AI Extendable:AI features are not built-in but can be added through plugins, integrations, or companion services. These may involve complex setup or extra cost.
  • Exploratory (Accessibility Risk):This tool is new or meant for exploration purposes only and has not been assessed for accessibility compliance, including alignment with WCAG standards applicable to U.S. educational institutions. Its accessibility status is unknown due to limited documentation and insufficient information from the vendor. Because accessibility cannot be verified, this tool must not be required for any course activity, assessment, or essential learning outcome. Student use must remain fully optional, and no student should experience reduced access to effective learning, engagement, or practice because they choose not to use this tool. Tools with this tag are intended primarily for internal exploration, experimentation, and optional enhancement rather than required instructional use.
  • User's Choice:This tool is used by many users and is highly regarded by students, faculty, and/or staff. This does not guarantee the tool is accessible for faculty to use in courses. Review additional tool information to ensure an informed decision regarding its suitability for faculty use in courses.

    • Difficulty is defined at each level as follows:

    • Beginner-Friendly: Requires basic familiarity with digital tools. Able to follow simple instructions and navigate intuitively. Benefit from clear guidance and encouragement.
    • Intermediate: Requires a moderate level of understanding of digital tools. Can explore deeper features and adapt to some customization. Able to engage and use with moderate complexity and seek help when needed.
    • Advanced: Requires advanced proficiency in using digital tools. Can navigate complex workflows and adapt to advanced customization. Able to innovate, contribute, and troubleshoot independently within the platform.