Microsoft Word Accessibility
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Use this resource, your way.
If you need a refresher, feel free to select any of the topics below under Content Formatting.
If learning about Microsoft Word Accessibility for the first time, please follow the directions below.
Self-Enroll for More Benefits!
- Take the quizzes to test your knowledge.
- Keep on track - mark completed pages or activities as done Links to an external site..
This course is free to self-enroll - take advantage of more content and a free tool to help you keep organized!
Older Versions of Word
Older versions of Word have features that behave differently when you use the Word 97-2003 document format:
In Windows, exporting to an accessible PDF in Office 2007 and 2003 requires a plug-in. The Adobe PDFMaker Plugin ships with Adobe Acrobat Pro, and the plugin is installed into Office and appears as an Adobe toolbar and menu item.
With this plug-in installed, use the Adobe toolbar or the Adobe menu item to Save As PDF. By default, this produces a PDF that preserves the document’s accessibility features.
On a Mac, Word did not include accessibility features at all until Office 2011 and did not support saving to tagged PDF until Office 2016.
In Office 2011, creating an accessible Word document is possible, but to export to tagged PDF, you must take that final step in Word for Windows or LibreOffice for Mac.
Word Online Versus Desktop Word
Microsoft Word for the web lets you make basic edits and formatting changes to your document in a web browser.
For more advanced features, use Word for the web’s Open in Word command.
When you save the document in Word, it is saved on the website where you opened it in Word for the web.
Word Online has some limitations and variations, which will be noted throughout the course.
Ready, Set, Go!
After downloading your activity set and uploading it into your course, please begin with Microsoft Word Accessibility Overview to learn how leveraging Canvas can help you easily manage accessibility and save time on course design.
Content Formatting
- Link text is meaningful, descriptive, and in context.
- Images have appropriate alternate text; images unrelated to page content are designated as decorative.
- Heading styles are nested in a logical and sequential order. Content is organized into meaningful sections using headings.
- Lists are formatted using the embedded list tool.
- Tables are for data with identifiable headers and header rows identified.
- Color and contrast are sufficient. Color is not used alone to convey meaning.
- Underlining is not used for emphasis.
Other Supplementary
Final Steps
- The document has been reviewed with the Accessibility Checker.
- If necessary, retain your accessibility work and export it to other exports.
Accessibility Links to an external site.
Canvas Accessibility Course is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
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Contact the Accessibility Center
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