Highlights 

• AI is accelerating accessibility from a compliance checkbox to a culture of inclusion. 

• Digital accessibility is no longer a niche—it’s core to equitable user experience. 

• Experts like Shawn Jordison (“The Accessibility Guy”) see AI as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to democratize access. 

• Foxit AI is bridging the gap between innovation and integrity—making documents smarter, compliant, and universally usable. 

The New Language of Inclusion 

Technology was always meant to empower—but for many users with disabilities, it’s often been a wall rather than a window. From unreadable PDFs to inconsistent web design, digital experiences that exclude aren’t just inconvenient—they’re isolating. 

But the AI era is changing that. 

In our recent conversation with Shawn Jordison, digital accessibility expert and founder of The Accessibility Guy, he reflected on how quickly the narrative has shifted: 

“Access is the key to life,” Jordison said. “AI is like a personal assistant that can now work beside you, helping remove the barriers that used to take hours—or entire teams—to overcome.” 

AI isn’t just speeding up workflows—it’s humanizing them. Where accessibility once required countless hours of manual tagging, testing, and formatting, new AI-powered solutions are making it possible to reach compliance and inclusion simultaneously. 

From Manual Labor to Meaningful Access 

Accessibility used to be a grind. Teams spent hours marking up documents, assigning reading orders, and checking compliance. Jordison described that earlier phase vividly: 

“It could take 20 to 40 hours just to make one thousand-page book accessible,” he said. “Now, with AI, that same work can take just a few hours.” 

This evolution isn’t just about speed—it’s about shifting human effort toward what really matters: understanding, empathy, and design thinking. 

Foxit AI, for instance, builds this philosophy directly into Foxit PDF Editor+. Features like AI Bookmarking and Auto-Tagging use natural language processing to interpret structure and context. Instead of depending on perfect formatting or endless manual corrections, the AI understands meaning—and makes documents readable for everyone. 

That’s a profound change. It’s not replacing accessibility experts; it’s giving them superpowers. 

The Human Side of AI Accessibility 

Jordison often reminds his clients that accessibility is not just for the visually impaired—it’s for everyone: 

“Accessibility equals usability,” he explained. “The more accessible your product is, the more usable it is for everyone.” 

AI accessibility tools enhance that universality. They simplify complexity, eliminate friction, and deliver clarity. That means shorter learning curves, cleaner user interfaces, and content that adapts seamlessly to screen readers, mobile devices, and alternative input methods. 

For example, a simple feature like AI Bookmarking doesn’t just add convenience. As Jordison noted, bookmarks are “a primary way assistive technology users navigate documents.” Automating that process means a person using a screen reader can now move through a 50-page report as quickly as anyone scrolling with a mouse. 

That’s not a small upgrade—that’s equal access in action. 

When Inclusion Becomes Innovation 

For decades, accessibility lagged behind mainstream innovation. Budgets were limited, resources were small, and awareness was low. But AI has erased those excuses. 

As Jordison put it, “Every major player—Microsoft, Adobe, Foxit—is moving accessibility forward faster than ever before.” 

AI acts as an equalizer. When systems can automatically detect low-contrast text, generate alt text for images, or reorganize reading order, accessibility becomes a default—not an afterthought. 

Foxit’s AI-first design philosophy exemplifies this. Its PDF tools now: 

• Intelligently identify document structure, even when headings aren’t tagged. 

• Suggest corrections that align with accessibility standards like WCAG and PDF/UA. 

• Offer voice-assisted reading and tagging for visually impaired creators. 

• Integrate with Foxit eSign for secure, compliant, and inclusive document workflows. 

This ecosystem ensures that accessibility isn’t confined to one step of a process—it’s embedded throughout the entire document lifecycle. 

Beyond Compliance: Designing for Dignity 

Too often, organizations treat accessibility as a legal requirement—a line item to avoid lawsuits or public backlash. But accessibility is not just about meeting standards like Section 508 or EN 301 549—it’s about respect. 

Jordison has a sharp perspective here: 

“A company that ignores inclusive design isn’t thinking about its future,” he said. “They might save a few dollars now, but they’ll lose credibility—and customers—later.” 

When accessibility is integrated into product design from the beginning, the result is better for everyone. Users without disabilities benefit from cleaner layouts, more intuitive navigation, and faster content consumption. That’s universal design—built for all, not some. 

And as AI continues to mature, the gap between convenience and compliance is narrowing. AI-powered accessibility doesn’t just follow the rules—it helps rewrite them. 

The Future: From Files to Fluid Access 

One of Jordison’s most provocative ideas from the discussion was this: 

“Do we even need files anymore?” 

He imagines a world where content isn’t locked in formats like PDFs or Word documents—but is instead delivered dynamically, through AI-driven interfaces that can speak, summarize, and personalize in real time. 

Foxit sees that same future from a different angle. Documents remain vital—they’re the legal, visual, and collaborative foundation of modern work—but how we interact with them is changing fast. AI will make them living, responsive entities: 

• Documents that self-audit for accessibility issues. 

• Reports that generate narrated summaries for low-vision users. 

• Contracts that adapt their layouts for cognitive ease. 

That’s where Foxit PDF accessibility is headed—bridging human understanding and machine intelligence, one document at a time. 

Why AI Accessibility Matters Now 

The next frontier of AI isn’t about automation—it’s about empathy. 

Inclusive technology ensures that everyone can participate in the digital economy. It helps students learn without barriers, employees contribute without limits, and organizations serve without exclusion. 

As Jordison reminded us: 

“It’s one thing to have an accessible document—it’s another for it to be consumable.” 

AI helps close that gap. It translates intent into impact. 

And for Foxit, that’s more than innovation—it’s responsibility. Every tool, from Foxit PDF Editor+ to Foxit eSign, reflects that commitment: secure, compliant, and accessible for everyone. 

Final Takeaway 

Accessibility is evolving from a technical requirement to a human right—and AI is accelerating that transformation. But true progress happens when we remember why it matters: connection, equality, and the dignity of access. 

Foxit AI is more than just automation—it’s accessibility with empathy. It empowers creators and consumers alike to work, sign, and share documents without exclusion, proving that technology can be both intelligent and inclusive. 

FAQs 

Q: What is AI accessibility? 
AI accessibility refers to the use of artificial intelligence to make digital content and tools usable by people with disabilities. This includes automating tagging, creating alt text, enhancing readability, and supporting screen readers. 

Q: How does Foxit AI support accessibility? 
Foxit AI integrates directly into Foxit PDF Editor+ with features like Auto-Tagging, AI Bookmarking, and intelligent reading order correction—streamlining compliance with WCAG and PDF/UA standards. 

Q: Why does accessibility matter for businesses? 
Beyond compliance, accessible design broadens reach, improves user experience, and strengthens brand trust. Studies show that inclusive companies outperform peers by 25% in innovation and customer loyalty (Source: Accenture Disability Inclusion Advantage Report). 

Q: Is AI replacing accessibility professionals? 
No—AI is augmenting them. As Jordison noted, “AI gives accessibility experts superpowers.” It automates repetitive work so humans can focus on strategy, testing, and meaningful inclusion. 

Q: What’s next for Foxit and AI accessibility? 
Foxit continues to advance its AI features across the document lifecycle—ensuring that every digital experience, from editing to signing, remains accessible, secure, and human-centered.