Making Documents, Spreadsheets, and Tables Accessible

Asset 1

Need to check the documents you’ve made for accessibility?

Learn how to use document-related accessibility checkers by visiting the “Checking for Accessibility” page.

You can also download checklists for documents and other types of materials to check accessibility:

Use the following how-to guides to help you create accessible text documents, spreadsheets, and tables. To view any of the Google Slides tutorials larger, click the full-size icon ( full size icon from google slides ) underneath each embedded presentation. You can use the arrows and play buttons ( back arrow, play triangle symbol, forward arrow ) or pause button ( pause button showing 2 parallel lines ) to proceed at your own pace.

Jump:


Documents

Creating Accessible Word and Google Documents

In this How-To, users will learn how to create accessible documents. MS Word and Google Docs have many features built-in that help people with different abilities to read and author documents. Microsoft Word also offers an accessibility checker which locates elements that might cause problems for people with disabilities. In this short set of slides, learn how to (1) make your documents accessible and (2) check your documents, making sure they are designed for all students and users of your course content.

Why is it important?

This is an important skill to know due to the fact that we have often have many different documents in our online courses, and knowing they are fully accessible is needed for all student success.

Who benefits?

This benefits students who are differently abled but also benefits all students through universal design.


To access this presentation as a PDF, download “Creating Accessible Word and Google Documents” and open it in Adobe Acrobat.


Creating Accessible PDFs from MS Word, InDesign and Acrobat

In this How-To, users will learn how to create accessible PDF files from Microsoft Word, Adobe InDesign, and Acrobat Pro.

What will be learned?

Participants will learn how to add accessibility tags to PDF files created from Word and InDesign documents, and how to use the Make Accessible action in Acrobat Pro to make PDFs accessible.

Why is it important?

Adding accessibility tags to PDF files makes it easier for screen readers and other assistive technologies to read and navigate a document, with Tables of Contents, hyperlinks, bookmarks, alt text, and so on. Accessibility tags also make it possible to read the information on different devices, such as large type displays, personal digital assistants (P.D.A.), and mobile phones.

Who benefits?

This benefits students who are differently abled but also benefits all students through universal design.


To access this presentation as a PDF, download “Creating Accessible PDFs from MS Word, InDesign and Acrobat” and open it in Adobe Acrobat.

Return to Top


Spreadsheets

Creating Accessible Excel and Google Spreadsheets

In this How-To, users will learn how to create accessible spreadsheets. These spreadsheet creation tools also offer the accessibility checkers that locate elements that might cause problems for people with disabilities. In this short set of slides, learn how to make your spreadsheets accessible, making sure they are designed for all students and users of your course content.

What will be learned?

Participants will learn how to make their Microsoft Excel and Google Spreadsheets accessible.

Why is it important?

This is an important skill to know because we have often many different documents in our online courses, and knowing they are fully accessible is key for all student success.

Who benefits?

This benefits students who are differently abled but also benefits all students through universal design.


To access this presentation as a PDF, download “Creating Accessible Excel and Google Spreadsheets” and open it in Adobe Acrobat.

Return to Top


Tables

Creating Accessible Tables

Learn to create accessible tables by adding a caption, organizing the semantic markup for row and column headers, and using relative values rather than pixel values for sizing.

Why is it important?

Tables allow orderly presentation of data. If they are not accessible, someone using an assistive device may not be able to tell which are the rows and which are the column headers. The table cells might even be read out of order, which would be confusing.

Who benefits?

Accessible tables enable people who cannot see them to make the associations between the tables and their rows and column headers as well as process the cells of the table in a logical way.

To access this presentation as a PDF, download “Creating Accessible Tables” and open it in Adobe Acrobat.

Return to Top