Note: All accessibility features mentioned below might not be applicable to your Word document. Please read through the checklist and apply the accessibility requirements where necessary.
Word Accessibility Features
The aim of the list below is that you can answer each question as it pertains to your current Word file with a resounding “Yes.” If any of the following pertain to your file and your answer is “No,” and you’d like assistance, please email TLi.
- Color Contrast
- Did I use color with high contrast in my document?
- Headings
- Every document requires a Heading (H1). Have you tagged the title of the document as a Heading 1?
- Are all subsequent headings in my document marked as Heading 2 (H2), Heading 3 (H3), etc, and without skipping any Heading levels?
- Hyperlinks
- Are the links in my document descriptive and unique?
- Images
- Did I include alternative text for any image, graphic, or smart art?
- Did I mark non-meaningful images, graphics, or smart art as decorative? (e.g., blank alt-text)
- List Styles
- Did I use the built-in bulleted or numbered list? (No lists were manually created.)
- Tables
- Does my table have descriptive column or row headers?
- Did I mark my header row in the table design?
- Did I repeat the header rows in the table layout? (necessary if the table spans multiple pages)
- Did I provide alternative text or a caption for my table?
- Text Styles
- Did I use more than one text feature (bold, color, size) to place emphasis on text? (Did not rely on color only for emphasis)
Word Accessibility Resources
The resources below will take you to Microsoft Support pages
Microsoft Word Videos
- Checking Document Accessibility (01:39)
Learn how to open and use the Accessibility Checker to find issues that make Word difficult for people with disabilities. - Making Images Accessible with Alt Text (02:07)
Learn how to add alt text to images and objects. Alt text can be read by screen readers and helps people who are blind or who have low vision understand what images and other objects are in a document. - Making Headings Accessible (01:25)
Headings are a great way to tell people what they need to know quickly. Learn how to use styles for headings to make your documents easier to navigate. - Making Links Accessible (02:09)
Learn how to create hyperlinks that use natural language so it’s easy to understand. - Using Accessible File Names (01:57)
Learn how to use meaningful file names that can make your documents easier to find so that your students will know exactly what they are opening. - Making Tables Accessible (02:18)
Tables organize information visually and help you show relationships between things. Learn how to set up tables so they can be read out loud to people who use a screen reader. - Creating Accessible Documents (04:29)
Text-based Resources
- Make your Word documents Accessible.
This resource will show you how to implement the following best practices, whether you are working in Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Online (Office365), or Windows 10 app version of Word:- Include alternative text with all visuals and tables (including SmartArt graphics, shapes, charts, and tables).
- Add meaningful hyperlink text and ScreenTips.
- Ensure that color is not the only means of conveying information.
- Use sufficient contrast for text and background colors.
- Use built-in headings and styles.
- Use a simple table structure and specify column header information.
