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

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.

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.

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.

When a PR and communications pro falls in love with accessibility, what happens next? In this episode of the Chax Chat Podcast, Chad Chelius and Dax Castro sit down with author and educator Matisse Hamel-Nelis to talk about her new book, Accessible Communications: Create Impact, Avoid Missteps and Build Trust, and the journey that brought her there, plus an honest look at what it's like to build an accessibility-focused career, launch a book and microsite, and teach the next generation of marketers and PR pros.

https://www.amazon.com/Accessible-Communications-Create-Impact-Missteps/dp/1398621846

If you create content in any form and want it to reach more people, build trust, and avoid avoidable missteps, this conversation will give you both encouragement and concrete ways to make your communications accessible and amazing.

This episode of Chax Chat features guest Roy Samuelson, a renowned audio description performer and consultant, who discusses the craft and impact of audio description in making video content accessible to blind and visually impaired audiences. The conversation covers the nuances of producing effective audio descriptions, the artistic and technical roles involved, and practical guidance for organizations looking to implement audio description in their media. Chad, Dax and Roy also emphasize the broader benefits of accessible content, drawing parallels between audio description and other forms of accessibility. they also share actionable tips for including blind professionals in the process and leveraging new features on platforms like YouTube for inclusive content delivery.

Link for Disney Frozen Audio Description Sample - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7j4_aP8dWA

Link to Roy's blog post - https://roysamuelson.com/why-i-dont-say-audio-descriptions/

Roy's version of IMDB for AD - Link to TheADNA.org - https://theadna.org/

The link for the blog article we referenced when discussing how blind people can work as Audio Description actors. https://roysamuelson.com/blindcreatorslead/

Inspired by Michael Hans' recent blog post, 'Google Docs Adds PDF Accessibility Tagging', Chad and Dax are exploring recent updates to Google Docs' PDF export capabilities. They focus on the addition of accessibility tags and the implications for document structure and screen reader usability. Chad and Dax discuss their own testing results, highlight both improvements and ongoing challenges with nested lists and table headers, and emphasize the importance of proper content structure for users with disabilities, including those with cognitive impairments. The conversation also covers best practices for alt text, link descriptions, and tools like Grackle Docs that enhance Google Docs' accessibility for PDF remediation. The link to the blog post: Google Docs Adds PDF Accessibility Tagging https://michaelhans.com/eclecticism/2025/08/28/google-docs-adds-pdf-accessibility-tagging/

Chad Chelius and Dax Castro welcome Microsoft's Shireen Salma and Ylva Kravis to unpack new accessibility features in Word and PowerPoint, including the cross‑platform Reading Order pane, smarter AI‑generated alt text with approval workflows, and improved handling of floating images via anchors in Word. The discussion dives into table accessibility (layout tables, header detection, scope, merged cells), export-to-PDF best practices, and practical tips like grouping behavior, setting slide titles, and reviewing alt text in bulk with Accessibility Assistant.

Ever wondered why making tables accessible is so tricky? Or why it matters at all? In this lively episode of Chax Chat, Chad Chelius and Dax Castro break down the nuts and bolts of accessible tables with practical tips that draw on their decades of hands-on experience. From the essential differences between visual and programmatic accessibility, to real-world table fails (and how to fix them!), they share their secrets to creating documents that truly work for everyone. You'll learn why a table title isn't just for looks, how to pick the right headers, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how screen readers navigate data. Whether you're wrangling rows in Word, untangling PDFs, or just trying to help your team pass accessibility audits, this episode is packed with actionable advice and quick wins. Discover how the smallest details—like summary tags, color choices, and even WHERE you put your footnotes—can make a world of difference in digital accessibility. Join Chad and Dax for a deep dive that will have you rethinking the tables in all your digital projects!

Ever wondered why your document gets a thumbs-up from automated checkers, but still trips up real users? Do you find yourself wishing that technical compliance could actually intersect with real-world user experience? Join Chad and Dax as they dive into relatable stories, offer hands-on tips for remediation, and reveal the hidden flaws that checkers just can't spot. Whether it's tag structure confusion, alt text tricks, or time-saving strategies, this conversation will help anyone move from "pass the checker" to "create for people." Plus, get the inside scoop on their upcoming sessions and swag at Adobe Max—be sure to stop by their booth for stickers, laughs, and expert advice! Don't miss this essential episode for anyone serious about making accessibility work in the real world.