Accessible Documents

Accessibility Checker

• In Microsoft Word, click on "Review"
• Click the down arrow next to "Check Accessibility"
• Click Check Accessibility

Document Properties

• Click File menu
• Click Info
• Edit properties on the right
  • Include a title, author(s), tags, any other properties you want to include

Reading Order

• Word reads top to bottom and left to right

Color and Contrast

• Text must have adequate contrast with the background color.
• Accessibility checkers will list problem areas and provide suggestions for both background and text colors

Alt Text

• All images, videos, and tables must have alt text for screen readers
  • The the text immediately preceding or succeeding the image may provide all the description needed and the Alt Text can be quite limited
• Descriptions should be consise and describe any functions such as linking to a website
• If an image is mearly decorative, you can mark the decorative checkbox and not include a description

Headings/Layout/Structure

• Theoretically, headings should go in order from Heading 1 down
  • Screen readers navigate a document by using headers
• If you don't like the look using headers in order, you can change the look of the header while maintaining the structure

Tables

• Tables should contain data, not be used for formatting
• Tables need headers in rows and/or columns
  • Table header row and/or column boxes need to be checked in the Table Design ribbon
• Cells cannot be merged across either rows or columns
• Avoid empty cells when possible

Word has a screen reader that makes testing your document easy.

• Click the View Ribbon
• Click the Immersive Reader icon 
• Click Read Aloud 

Immersive Reader Options

• Column width can be adjusted by the reader
• Background page color can be adjusted by the reader
• Line spacing can be used to black out all but one or a couple lines to help with swimming text
• Words can be divided up into syllables