Accessibility: How to Make Digital Assets Accessible: Documents

This is an overview of the elements that require special consideration when creating accessible documents. Please review one of the Additional Resources for detailed instructions on any of the following:

• Use the built-in Headings between sections in your document to provide structure and context.
• Add ALT Text to embedded images, charts, and graphs in order to provide a description of the item. Images that are decorative maybe tagged as "null" so the screen reader skips the image.  
• Use the built-in Lists tools for bulleted and numbered lists, rather than inserting them manually.
• Identify row and column headers for tables with clear labels.
• Make sure Hyperlinks make sense without their surrounding content. For example do not title a link "click here" instead title with the name of the website or resource.
• Do not use color as a means of conveying essential information.
• Ensure the text is legible by using Sans-serif fonts and make sure your Color Scheme has enough contrast between light and dark. Avoid using orange, red and green for your template or text. 
• Use the simplest and clearest language appropriate for the document's content.

Microsoft Word Accessibility Templates

Here is an example of a screen reader going through accessible and inaccessible Word Documents

​Applying styles in Word 2010

To check:

• Website or webpage visit the 508 Checker website.
• Microsoft Office products visit the Check for accessibility issues information page on the Microsoft website.
  • Rules used by Microsoft accessibility checker
• Accessibility in Office 365 view the support page
• Use of color for the 3 types of color blindness visit the Accessibility Color Wheel website.