Chax Chat Accessibility Podcast

Hosted by Dax Castro & Chad Chelius

Education

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 18, 2026Episode 1832 min

Accessible Graphic Novels

How do you make a highly visual graphic novel accessible without flattening the story into a series of disconnected image descriptions? In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad and Dax explore the unique accessibility challenges created by panels, speech balloons, visual action, pacing, suspense, and complex reading order. They present a seven-step approach for preserving the experience, including understanding the story, establishing reading order, identifying visual hierarchy, determining information dependencies, describing rather than interpreting, prioritizing meaningful details, and testing the final reader experience. The result is an accessibility strategy that treats a graphic novel as a story to be experienced, not simply a collection of images requiring alternate text. Every other week, we unravel accessibility to help you create documents that are more inclusive, compliant, and practical for real users.

August 4, 2026Episode 1741 min

Complex Infographics: A Tactical Approach

Complex infographics can be one of the most challenging accessibility problems to solve. In this episode, Chad and Dax break down a practical framework for evaluating, designing, and remediating complex visual content. From water cycle diagrams and flowcharts to data-rich visualizations, they explore how to determine the intended user experience, choose the right delivery method, and decide when alt text, live text, body copy, or alternative formats are the best solution. They also discuss common mistakes, the role of AI in creating descriptions, and why accessibility decisions should happen during the design phase—not after the document is finished. Whether you're a designer, accessibility specialist, or document creator, this episode provides actionable strategies for making complex information more understandable and accessible for everyone.

July 21, 2026Episode 1638 min

TOCs vs. Bookmarks: Which Serves Users Better?

In this episode, Chad and Dax explore one of the most overlooked accessibility features in document design: the table of contents. They discuss why a properly built TOC often provides a better user experience than bookmarks, how screen reader users interact with document navigation, and why automated TOCs are worth the effort. We dive into common objections to using table of contents features, practical workflows for Adobe InDesign and Microsoft Word, techniques for handling custom TOC styling, and solutions for one of the most common accessibility problems: dot leaders. If you've ever wondered whether a table of contents is really necessary, or struggled to create one that meets both design and accessibility requirements, this episode is packed with practical guidance and real-world remediation strategies. Tagged PDF Best Practice Guide: Syntax

July 7, 2026Episode 1548 min

If You Are Not Listening, You Are Not Finished

You're always surprised at how many people who are document remediation specialists have never listened to their document using assistive technology. Passing an accessibility checker does not guarantee a good user experience. In this episode, Chad and Dax break down the real-world issues that only show up when you actually test your documents with assistive technology. From acronyms and ligatures to bullets, tables, links, company names, and financial data, they explain why screen reader testing reveals problems that automated tools completely miss. If you create accessible PDFs, reports, proposals, or digital documents, this episode will change the way you think about testing. Plus, they share a downloadable handout packed with the top reasons you should be testing your documents with assistive technology. The handout for this podcast can be found here .

June 23, 2026Episode 1436 min

The Hidden Cost of PDF Navigation

PDF navigation menus might seem helpful, but are they actually creating barriers for assistive technology users? In this episode, Chad and Dax unpack the hidden accessibility challenges caused by page navigation in PDFs, including "Back to TOC" buttons, navigation bars, bookmarks, and linked page controls. They explain why something that feels intuitive for sighted users can become frustrating and disruptive for screen reader users, and share practical strategies for making navigation more usable without sacrificing accessibility. If you create PDFs, reports, proposals, or digital publications, this conversation will change the way you think about document navigation.

June 9, 2026Episode 1344 min

Understanding PDF Forms and the User Experience

If you've ever struggled to understand why PDF forms are inaccessible, you need to listen to this episode! Chad and Dax dive deep into one of the most frustrating areas of document accessibility: PDF forms. From tooltip confusion and form field tagging to radio buttons, checkboxes, tables, and AEM Forms, they unpack why forms continue to create accessibility barriers for users of assistive technology. They also explore the importance of user experience over simply "passing a checker," discuss the differences between browse mode and forms mode in screen readers, and share how their new tool, Form IQ, is helping automate some of the most painful remediation tasks in Acrobat. If your organization creates forms for HR, healthcare, insurance, government, or finance, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

May 26, 2026Episode 1231 min

Accessible Canva: Progress over Perfection

For years, Canva has been one of the most widely used tools and one of the most challenging when it comes to accessibility, so when we started hearing that improvements had been made, we were skeptical. Then we opened a file. In this episode, we take a first look at Canva's latest accessibility updates and walk through what's actually changed. From real-time color contrast feedback to improved tagging and built-in accessibility checks, there are some genuinely meaningful steps forward. But it's not perfect. We also dig into where things still fall short, including reading order challenges and list behavior that can impact screen reader users, because accessibility isn't about passing a checker, it's about creating an experience that actually works. This episode isn't about calling Canva out, it's about calling progress what it is. When a company listens, improves, and starts moving in the right direction, that matters, and it raises the bar for everyone else. If you've ever struggled to balance real-world tools with accessibility expectations, this is a conversation you'll want to hear.

May 12, 2026Episode 1138 min

When Do You Actually Need Table Cell IDs?

In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad and Dax tackle one of the most complex and misunderstood topics in document accessibility: table cell IDs. While most people understand basic table structure, things quickly break down when you introduce merged cells, multiple header levels, and real-world design patterns. They walk through how tables are supposed to work, why scope alone isn't always enough, and where things start to fail for assistive technology. From explaining how screen readers interpret parent and child relationships within tables to sharing practical strategies for fixing complex structures, this episode dives deep into both the "why" and the "how." Whether you're working in Word, InDesign, or remediating directly in Acrobat, you'll gain a clearer understanding of when cell IDs are necessary and how to implement them efficiently without spending hours doing it manually.

April 28, 2026Episode 1026 min

Bullet Structure Revealed

In this episode of Chax Chat, Chad and Dax dig into a deceptively simple topic that has a big impact on accessibility: lists. While bullets and numbers may seem like basic formatting choices, the way they are structured behind the scenes can dramatically change how assistive technology interprets and reads content. They break down the anatomy of a properly tagged list in a PDF and explain why those tags matter more than most people realize. From real-world examples of how screen readers behave when list structures are incorrect to surprising quirks like how certain bullet styles are announced, this episode highlights the gap between visual design and actual usability. Whether you're creating documents in Word, InDesign, or remediating in Acrobat, you'll walk away with practical insights to help ensure your lists aren't just formatted correctly - but truly accessible.

April 20, 2026Episode 929 min

What the ADA Title II Extension Really Means

Just days after we unpacked the upcoming ADA Title II deadline, everything changed. In this special episode, legal expert Judith Risch returns for her second appearance this week to walk through the Department of Justice's one-year extension, and what it signals now that the update is official. Together, we move beyond the headline to explore what's driving the change, what may come next, and what organizations should actually be paying attention to right now. With decades of experience in digital accessibility and civil rights law, Judith brings clarity to a moment that's easy to misinterpret. While the timeline has changed, the expectations haven't, and neither has the need to make meaningful progress. This episode is a reset: a chance to refocus, get aligned, and use this time intentionally.

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