Accessibility Workshop on OER for LaGuardia Community College: Create Accessible WORD document

• Use a sans serif fonts such as Arial, Helvetica or Verdana.
• Use 12 point or larger.
• Give documents descriptive titles, they are read aloud to screen readers.
• Use WORD’s built in STYLES to structure and organize your document.
• Use HEADINGS to structure and organize your document.
• Use PAGE LAYOUT/COLUMNS to create columns, not with tabs or spaces.
• Include ALT TEXT (alternative text describing item) for images, tables, charts and graphs so they are “visible” to everyone. 
• For complex tables and charts provide a detailed transcript.
• Don’t use tables for layout.
• Keep tables simple.
• Use descriptive text for links, don’t use  “click here” or “more”
• Use bulleted and numeric lists for related items.
• Include a table of contents for long documents (Word can generate if you use styles).
• Don’t use color as the sole way you relay information.
• Be cautious as to the colors you choose.
• Provide sufficient color contrast.
• Check how document looks for colorblind individuals.
• Include closed captions or transcripts for any audio or video elements.

For each version of Word, Microsoft provides detailed instructions on how to:

• Create and Edit Headings
• Add Alternative Text
• Create Tables
• Editing Hyperlinks
• Create Lists
• Create Columns
• Use the Accessibility Checker
• Saving as HTML
• Convert to PDF

Select your version of Word to see how to add accessible content.

• Word 2010 (Windows)
• Word 2011 (Mac)
• Word 2013 (Windows)
• Word 2016 (Windows)
• Word 2016 (Mac)