Microsoft Word & Accessibility Best Practices

• Course Description

  

  This training covers various techniques to create accessible and navigable documents. You will learn how to use heading styles and table of contents features to improve navigation, write effective image descriptions, and convert complex tables into simple ones for accessibility. Additionally, you will gain knowledge on creating accessible charts, integrating infographics, and creating PDF forms using Microsoft Word. Finally, the course will also discuss the strengths and limitations of the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word.

  Open Course

Course Details

Audience:

• Document Authors
• Web Content Managers
• Accessibility Testers

Duration: 60 minutes
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Version: Version 1.2 (Jul 2024)

What Will I Learn in This Course?

In this course you’ll learn how to utilize Authoring features in Microsoft Word to structure and organize Contant in an accessible Word document. This module builds upon the document video series created by the Federal CIO Council’s Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice (AED COP).

After completing this training, you will be able to do the following:

1. Leverage heading styles and table of contents features to support optimal navigation.
2. Write strong image descriptions and apply them using the alternative text property.
3. Convert complex tables to simple tables to ensure tabular content is accessible & identify header information, where applicable.
4. Incorporate charts and infographic images in your accessible document.
5. Get started with Word to create a PDF form.
6. Explain the strengths and shortcomings of the Accessibility Checker.

Certificate and Continuing Learning Points (CLPs)

Demonstrate your skills and stand out in your field with a certificate that proves you’ve completed this course. There is only one type of certificate offered for this course.

1. By selecting "Open Course" you will earn a downloadable PDF certificate upon completion.
2. This course is not offered with continuing learning points (CLP).

Key Terms and References

• Authoring Meaningful Alternative Text
• Creating Accessible Forms in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF (PDF)
• Documents Authoring Guides
• How to Make an Accessible Document in Microsoft Word (Video Series)
• How to Test and Remediate PDFs for Accessibility Using Adobe Acrobat DC
• Module 2: Use Styles to Create headings
• TED: 19.1 percent of people with a disability were employed in 2021
• Using and editing existing styles in MS Word
• Vocabulary
  • Complex data table
  • Data table
  • Simple data table

Reviewed/Updated: October 2024