Word
Microsoft Word (text) documents are one of the most widely used formats for learning materials. To ensure that you are providing equity of experience for all your learners, it is essential that you follow the accessibility guidelines below.
Following the guidelines will also make it easier for you to create a table of contents and convert your document into an accessible PDF format.
| Topic/issue | Action | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Title, headings and document formatting | Use the Word styles and formatting toolbar to format headings etc. | This helps those with disabilities to navigate your document. |
| Page numbers | Number all pages. | |
| Font |
|
Lighthouse International has a good Web page on using fonts. |
| Table of contents | Insert this based on Word heading styles. | This provides content information and enables users to move quickly to relevant areas. |
| Bullet points and numbering | Use to lay out information clearly. | |
| Images | See section on images. | |
| Hyperlinks | Avoid ‘Click here’ – this may be incomprehensible to those using a screen reader. | The nature of the link should meaningful when read out of context. This is especially important for those who use a screen reader, who could then browse by hyperlink title. For example: The most widely used search engine on the internet is Google
|
|
If the document is to be printed, also include the full hyperlink in brackets. Add a screen tip with expslanatory text. |
Example: The most widely used search engine on the internet is Google (http://www.google.co.uk/) This assists those using a screen reader. |
|
| Figures | Include figure numbers and captions. | See section on tables and figures. |
| Tables | Include table numbers and captions. | See section on tables and figures. |
| Charts and diagrams | Provide a content summary. | This should describe key information. |
| Symbols | Where appropriate, use words rather than symbols. | For example: copyright rather than © |
Glossary of terms
- Screen reader: software used by those with visual impairments.
- Screen tip: similar to an alt tag, this describes a hyperlink
Further Information
- JISC TechDIS: Creating Accessible Documents in Microsoft word 2010
- Lighthouse International: Making Text Legible
- WebAIM: Microsoft Word