How can I get "Read Out Loud" to read a calander properly for the blind?

Question

I create a monthly newsletter for a place that has a traditional calendar along with it.  One of the people this newsletter goes to is blind and uses a screen reader to read it out loud.  I also discovered Adobe Reader can also do this.  Unfortunately, both methods do not seem to understand how a calendar is read.  Each day on the calendar has several events written into each.  So when it reads, it goes from left to right with first reading the numbers of the day, then reading the first line of events all the way across, then second, third, etc... the will read the next row of day numbers along with the events, etc...  Of course I want it to read the single day number with the events next, then the next day number and events, etc...  I use InDesign to create everything if that helps at all.  Is there any way to create this PDF so a reader will read it properly?

Answer 1

Hi,
Acrobat's ROL, while I find it very useful, is limited.
After all, it is not a "AT" caliber text reader.
It "reads" PDF page content left to right --- period.
It has no recognition of the logical hierarchy or structure of a PDF's content.
Consequently, what you've described is pretty much all you get.
For AT (JAWS, Windows Eyes, NVDA, etc.) to "work" a PDF properly the PDF must come from an authoring application that supports Tag management for the Tagged output PDF.
The authoring file content must be mastered in a manner that supports a Tagged output PDF that complies with ISO 32000-1:2008 (The ISO Standard for PDF).
(Available via: http://www.acrobatusers.com/blogs/leonardr/adobe-posts-free-iso-32000  )
This is particularly true for tables.
Typically, "calendars" available for MS Word, other word processors or page layout applications usage are "layout" tables and as such will not provide an accessible table in a Tagged PDF.
A calendar, built as a data table such that it had a header row with header cells, a table body with data rows of data cells, etc,. could be the source content for a correctly built <Table> in PDF.
Such a table can be processed by AT (via appropriate keyboard commands) to permit understanding of the "who-what-why-..." of the table.
With an appropriate table description, you'd have an AT "usable" calender.
The calendar could be mastered in MS Word.
Conversion to PDF via Adobe PDFMaker or Office 2007's Save-As to PDF (with accessibility option selected) result in well-formed Tagged PDF.
n.b., Regardless of which may be used - be sure you've processed all available updates (Adobe's or Microsoft's) - it makes a difference.
From viewing InDesign/Accessibility eSeminars provided by Adobe I believe you can master tables the will be well-formed <Table> & child elements with InDesign. Until InDesign / FrameMaker get a make over <TH> Scope will still have to be done manually with Acrobat Pro.
If you have complex tables that warrent use of ID and Header you will want to use Acrobat 9 as the task is easier with it.
Some reference sources that can be informative and useful:
Duff Johnson's article "It "sounded" like a good idea at the time" (about Read Outloud)
http://www.acrobatusers.com/blogs/duffjohnson/it-sounded-good-idea-time
Duff Johnson's recorded eSeminar: "Tech Talk: Making PDF files comply with Section 508"
http://adobechats.adobe.acrobat.com/p45245327/
Charlie Pike's recorded eSeminar: "Accessibility"
http://adobechats.adobe.acrobat.com/p51087250/
Some InDesign specific resources are given in the second to last post in this thread at the AUC:
http://www.acrobatusers.com/forums/aucbb/viewtopic.php?id=15622
Be well...