Chax Chat Accessibility Podcast

Dax Castro & Chad Chelius

Join Chad Chelius and Dax Castro (CHAX) as they chat about important document accessibility topics, trends and maybe even complain a little now and again.

  1. 17 MAR

    The One Remediation Tool You Should Have...

    What's the best tool for making PDFs accessible? It's the question we get constantly, and the honest answer might surprise you. There isn't one. In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad and Dax break down how the "best" accessibility tool depends entirely on your starting point. Are you working in Word, InDesign, PowerPoint, Google Docs, or Canva? Do you have a tagged PDF, an untagged PDF, or a scanned document? Each scenario changes the strategy. We discuss why "born accessible" is always better than heavy remediation, when Adobe's auto-tagging can actually help, why tools like MadeToTag and Access Word continue to be game changers, and how platforms like CommonLook, PDFix, PREP, and Grackle fit into the workflow. We also talk about handling scanned PDFs, the realities of screen reader testing, and why bookmarks aren't the navigation solution many people think they are. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to choose the right accessibility tool, this episode will help you stop chasing a magic solution and start making smarter decisions based on context. Every other week, we unravel accessibility so you can build more inclusive, compliant, and practical documents.     Screen Readers NVDA https://www.nvaccess.org JAWS https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/jaws Apple Voice Over https://www.apple.com/accessibility/vision   Color Checkers TPGi Color Contrast Analyzer https://www.tpgi.com/color-contrast-checker WebAIM Color Contrast Checker https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker 8-Shapes Contrast Grid https://contrast-grid.eightshapes.com Microsoft Color Simulations https://www.microsoft.com/design/color Sim Daltonism https://michelf.ca/projects/sim-daltonism Daltonizer https://play.google.com/store/apps/ Adobe Illustrator https://www.adobe.com Adobe Photoshop https://www.adobe.com Color.Adobe https://color.adobe.com/   Acrobat Plugins CommonLook PDF https://commonlook.com Callas PDFgoHTML https://www.callassoftware.com   MS Word Plugins CommonLook Office https://commonlook.com axesWord https://www.axes4.com   Google Extension Grackle Docs https://www.grackledocs.com   InDesign Plugins MadeToTag https://www.axaio.com/madetotag   PDF Remidiators Adobe Acrobat Pro DC https://www.adobe.com/acrobat Adobe Bridge https://www.adobe.com axesPDF https://www.axes4.com Abby Fine Reader https://www.abbyy.com/ PDFix https://pdfix.net Responsive Table Generator Tool https://ianrmedia.unl.edu/website-resources/responsive-table-generator-tool/ Grackle PDF https://www.grackledocs.com/grackle-pdf Vengage https://venngage.com PREP (Continual Engine) https://www.continualengine.com/prep   PDF Checker PAC Checker 2026 https://pac.pdf-accessibility.org CommonLook Validator https://netcentric.allyant.com/accessibility-software/pdf-validator/   InDesign Scripts Keith Gilbert InDesign Scripts https://gilbertconsulting.com   Virtualization for Mac Parallels Desktop https://www.parallels.com Windows OS https://www.microsoft.com/windows Karabiner-Elements https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org

    46 min

  2. 3 MAR

    Microsoft's MathML Win and Adobe's AI Alt Text Experiment

    In this episode of ChaxChat, Dax Castro and Chad Chelius unpack two very different approaches to accessibility innovation. First, they dive into Microsoft's implementation of MathML in Word and PowerPoint and why it represents a genuine win for accessible math. By carrying MathML through to the PDF export with proper tagging and screen reader support, Microsoft demonstrates what it looks like when accessibility is built into the workflow rather than patched on later. They then turn to Adobe InDesign's new AI-generated alt text feature and explore where it helps, where it falls short, and why turning it on by default raises important concerns. The conversation highlights the difference between proven accessibility solutions and experimental AI features, emphasizing the need for human oversight, informed decision-making, and realistic expectations as tools continue to evolve.

    33 min

  3. 17 FEB

    Accessible Forms: PDF or Web?

    Accessible forms are more than a technical checklist. They require smart decisions about usability, workflow, and long-term maintenance. In this episode of Chax Chat, Dax Castro and Chad Chelius are joined by Walt Zielinski, a web developer with extensive experience building accessible form experiences. The conversation focuses on a key question: when should you use a web form versus a PDF form? Together, they explore real-world considerations like data collection, offline access, cost, maintenance, and who is responsible for supporting the form over time. They also cover common accessibility issues that frequently get overlooked, including error identification, focus order, color reliance, target size, and the correct use of checkboxes and radio buttons. This episode offers practical guidance for designers, developers, and document professionals who want forms that actually work for everyone.

    38 min

  4. 3 FEB

    What 2025 Taught Us About Accessibility - and What Comes Next

    In this episode, Dax Castro and Chad Chelius take a thoughtful look back at the accessibility lessons that defined 2025 and share what they are most excited about heading into 2026, drawing directly from real client work, remediation challenges, and conference conversations. They unpack why tables and forms continue to be the most persistent pain points for document accessibility, discuss hard-earned wins from complex remediation projects, and reflect on where current tools still fall short. The conversation also explores realistic expectations for AI in accessibility, emerging assistive technologies that show genuine promise, and the conferences and community spaces shaping the year ahead. It is an honest, practical discussion grounded in experience, aimed at helping accessibility professionals and content creators learn from the past while preparing for what comes next.

    33 min

  5. 20 JAN

    The Real Cost of Accessibility: Tools, Time, and ROI

    In this episode Dax Castro and Chad Chelius break down the real-world value of accessibility tools. From essential free tools like NVDA and color contrast analyzers to powerful paid solutions like CommonLook, Access PDF, PDFix, and more, they discuss what actually saves time, what improves quality, and what's worth the investment. If you're creating or remediating accessible documents and wondering whether paid tools are justified, this conversation offers practical insights, honest tradeoffs, and ROI-driven advice grounded in everyday accessibility work.   You can find the Accessibility Tools Handout here: https://app.box.com/s/vhzt4r9rsqsucoz74ifxh2a3io1twaa2

    51 min

  6. 6 JAN

    From Fixing to Planning: Accessible Workflow Essentials

    Join Dax Castro and senior trainer Rob Underwood as they unpack how smarter file management and planning can transform your accessibility projects. They dig into practical strategies for setting up metadata, creating consistent heading structures, choosing and managing accessible color palettes with CC Libraries, and planning alternate formats for charts and tables before you ever hit export to PDF. Along the way, they tackle the realities of inherited files, layout tables, and multi-person workflows, showing how clear roles and reusable systems can save hours of remediation time while creating a better experience for everyone.   Note: For Rob's layer shortcut, he meant to say bring to front, not send to back.

    40 min

  7. 23/12/2025

    Accessible Color Without Killing Your Design

    Does accessibility really mean ugly charts, boring colors, and pattern fills everywhere? In this episode, Chad Chelius and Dax Castro tackle accessible color head-on: what color contrast actually means, when it applies (and when it doesn't), and how to handle charts, graphs, heat maps, and logos without trashing your brand. They break down the key WCAG contrast ratios, talk about the logo exemption, and share practical strategies like smarter legends, labels, and selective use of patterns instead of "pattern fill everything." Learn how building an accessible brand palette up front can save hours of rework, and how thoughtful body text and alt text work together for complex graphics. If you've ever been told "accessibility makes our visuals look terrible," this episode will help you push back with solid reasoning and better design.

    33 min

  8. 09/12/2025

    Are You Fixing the Wrong Thing?

    Are you spending hours "fixing" things in a PDF that your screen reader users will never notice? In this episode Chad Chelius and Dax Castro ask a hard question: Are you fixing the wrong thing? We pop open the tags tree and talk about what really affects user experience and what is just busywork. From span tags and container tags that never get voiced, to lists that read like run-on paragraphs, to title tags vs H1s, role maps, and tables without proper scope, we walk through where your time actually matters. If you have ever deleted 200 span tags by hand, fought with a list that "looks fine," or wrestled with complex tables in Acrobat, CommonLook, or axesPDF, this episode will help you rethink your workflow and prioritize the fixes that make a real difference for assistive technology users.

    46 min
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About

Join Chad Chelius and Dax Castro (CHAX) as they chat about important document accessibility topics, trends and maybe even complain a little now and again.

Information

  • Creator
    Dax Castro & Chad Chelius
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025. All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Chax Chat Accessibility Podcast

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