Individualized Conventional Electronic Documents Guidance

Am I required to make documents that were created for a specific person accessible?

If content meets all three of the follow criteria, it is an “individualized conventional electronic document” and not required to comply with WCAG 2.1 AA.

1. If it is a word processing, presentation, PDF, or spreadsheet file, and 
2. it is about a specific individual, their property, or their account, and 
3. it is password-protected or otherwise secure 

Note: You may still have to provide web content in an accessible format if an individual requests it. See the DOJ rule on digital accessibility, paragraph 34.

Examples

• A PDF version of a student’s transcript on a password-protected website is not required to be accessible
• A PDF version of an individual employee’s worker documents on Workday is not required to be accessible

Related guidance

• Preexisting Electronic Documents Guidance

How to make electronic documents accessible

The UW Accessible Technology team provides techniques, strategies and checklists to make digital content accessible.

• Documents
• PowerPoint Presentations