This resource is designed to help you provide your students with accessible Microsoft Word documents. The table below provides recommendations and links to appropriate guidance materials. Please note that the points raised here encompass both the values and ethos of the Universal design for Learning and the requirements of Accessibility legislation (Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018) relating to resources made available via websites, including the Blackboard VLE.
Microsoft provides a mechanism for checking the accessibility of documents in word and a full description of the method for running this check is provided at the end of the table below.
What to think about | What to do |
Font | Use a sans serif fonts, such as Arial, Helvetica, Calibri and Tahoma. |
Font size | For documents try to keep the font size at 12 or above. |
Filename | Make the File name descriptive of the content. |
Headings | Use the styles and heading tools rather than formatting standard text to look right.
Ensure that titles and headings are descriptive and clearly stated. |
Structure | Use a 1.5 line spacing.
Align left wherever possible and avoid justification.
Use a punctuation mark after a bullet point. Add spaces around Headings and Paragraphs (use the add space before or after a paragraph option). Avoid using multiple columns of text. Avoid using textured background styles. Avoid crowded text and images (where text is to be enlarged, 7 – 11 words per line is preferable). Avoid text wrapping images – put images in line with the text. Avoid adding text over images. Avoid the use of indentation for new paragraphs (use line spacing). |
Links | Use meaningful text and descriptions for hyperlinks.
ScreenTips can be employed to provide additional hyperlink information (Screen Tips are added via the hyperlink set-up window). Avoid using a full url on a page. |
Images, diagrams, charts and graphics | To add images, icons, word art etc. to a word document.
Use ALT text to provide a clear description of any type of non-text object added. (Office 2019) For other versions of Microsoft Word use the information at this link to add ALT text.
Decorative images do not need explanatory ALT text but it does need to indicate that the image is decorative. A more detailed image description may be required in the body of the text where specific details and ideas are to be conveyed. Avoid using any content that flashes or flickers. Avoid using visual characteristics alone to convey information. Avoid including images of text. |
Text colours | Avoid communicating ideas with colour alone.
Avoid using green and red / pink. |
Colour contrast | Ensure that there is a high contrast between the text and its background. The default themes and style options in Microsoft Word have acceptable text to background contrast levels. This can be checked using the Microsoft accessibility checker – see below.
Information about these aspects of Microsoft Word can be accessed at this link. |
Headers and footers | Ensure that any vital information included in these areas is repeated within the body of the text. |
Tables | Use a simple table structure.
Include clear column and row headings. Only use a table where it is absolutely necessary – avoid using a table as a formatting tool. For instance, to add columns. Avoid split and merged cells. Avoid blank rows and columns |
Superscript and Subscript | Where possible, avoid offline additions:
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The accessibility of a Microsoft Word document can be checked easily from within Word by:
- Select the ‘File’ tab in the top left hand corner.
- Click the ‘Check for Issues’ button and select ‘check accessibility’.
- A separate panel will appear on the right hand side of the screen that gives information about any accessibility issues with your document and suggestions about the way to fix them.