[CATO] Common Look Tools?

[Vicki Walton]

Hello Amy and all of CATO,

I was also a CommonLook Office/CommonLook PDF user. That program can make PDFs more accessible than a Word document itself.  There are just some things in a Word document you cannot make fully accessible.

I think the key here is to start out with an accessible source document which would most likely be from MS Word.  Then when you save it to a PDF, using CommonLook to remediate that PDF, it will walk you through the process of making sure that PDF is accessible.  One thing I really like about CommonLook, as well, is that it has a validator at the end of your process so that it will tell you where you have missed elements that need to still be remediated and made accessible.

CommonLook does take a bit of training to be able to use efficiently but it is a great program.


[Title: SBCTC logo - Description: Compass]Vicki Walton
Pronouns: they/them
Web Accessibility Specialist/IT Quality Assurance Tester
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
vwalton at sbctc.edu* office: 360-704-4343* website: www.sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/default.aspx>



Accessibility is not a checkbox. Accessibility is a mindset that can lead to a very powerful sense of inclusion.
~ Maayan Ziv founder and CEO AccessNow

From: CATO <cato-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Rovner, Amy via CATO
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2024 10:56 AM
To: cato at lists.ctc.edu
Cc: Rovner, Amy <arovner at shoreline.edu>
Subject: [CATO] Common Look Tools?

[Sent from outside SBCTC]

Hi CATO friends,

I'm in an Allyant webinar - they make the CommonLook tools for making office, PDF, etc. accessible.

They got my attention when one of the presenters (who is blind) said they would 100% choose an accessible PDF over a Word doc (made as accessible as the Word accessibility tool directs). That blew my mind b/c that is the exact opposite of what I have heard users who are blind have said in the past. Just trying to figure out if it's a sales tactic or that their PDF remediation tools are really that good.

Are any of you using these tools? Thoughts?

Thank you!
Amy

Amy Rovner, MPH RD
Director eLearning Services
ctcLink Training Lead
Shoreline Community College
www.shoreline.edu<http://www.shoreline.edu>  |  206.546.6937
eLearning Office: 206.546.6966
eLearning Email: elearning at shoreline.edu<mailto:elearning at shoreline.edu>
Shoreline Support Center<https://support.shoreline.edu/>
Canvas Support Live Chat: for Students<http://%3Chttps/cases.canvaslms.com/liveagentchat?chattype=student%3E>; for Faculty<http://%3Chttps/cases.canvaslms.com/apex/liveagentchat%3E> (or call 888-672-2040)
[Shoreline Community College]<https://shoreline.edu/>

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