Accessible Microsoft Office Content

By using built-in accessibility features and following good authoring practices, we can create content accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Explore these resources to learn how to create inclusive Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel spreadsheets, Outlook emails, and other Microsoft Office content. For topics not covered here, contact accessibility@ua.edu and we will do our best to help.

Microsoft Office Accessibility

Office Accessibility Center – Resources for people with disabilities – Microsoft’s resources for people with disabilities and information and training on how to make your content accessible for all, including:
1. Training – accessibility video training.
2. Templates – free templates that help you make your content accessible to everyone and guidance for creating your own accessible templates.
3. Learning Tools – free tools available in Microsoft products to improve reading and writing skills.
4. Accessible content – Office product-specific tips for making your content accessible to all.
5. Accessibility resources – Accessibility capabilities in Office 365, Disability Answer Desk, Windows 10 accessibility help, Microsoft accessibility, and more.
Microsoft Accessibility Features – interactive list of accessibility features available on Windows 10 and Office 365.
Microsoft Education Courses – Microsoft Education offers several free online courses related to accessibility, many of which are included in the Inclusive Classroom Learning Path.
Printables
- Empowerment begins with inclusion – poster highlighting built-in accessibility capabilities and best practices across Office 365.
- Reimagine creating accessible content for everyone with Microsoft in Education – tips for enabling students to use multiple learning modalities when creating and accessing Office content.
- Do’s and don’ts of creating accessible content

Accessibility Checker

Product-specific guidance

Word

Make your Word documents accessible to people with disabilities – Microsoft’s step-by-step instructions with pictures and links to relevant documentation.
Create more accessible Word documents – Microsoft’s accessibility video training.
Word Cheatsheets – NCDAE’s one-page accessibility resources to assist anyone creating accessible content, especially less-technical users.
Accessibility support for Word – Microsoft help articles for assistive technology users.

PowerPoint

Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilities – Microsoft’s step-by-step instructions with pictures and links to relevant documentation.
Create more accessible PowerPoint slides – Microsoft’s accessibility video training.
PowerPoint Cheatsheets – NCDAE’s one-page accessibility resources to assist anyone creating accessible content, especially less-technical users.
Accessibility support for PowerPoint – Microsoft help articles for assistive technology users.
These resources address both the accessibility of presentation materials and inclusive presentation practices:
- How to Make Your Presentations Accessible to All (W3C Web Accessibility Initiative)
- Equal Access: Universal Design of Your Presentation (UW DO-IT)

Excel

Make your Excel documents accessible to people with disabilities – Microsoft’s step-by-step instructions with pictures and links to relevant documentation.
Create more accessible Excel workbooks – Microsoft’s accessibility video training.
Excel Cheatsheets – NCDAE’s one-page accessibility resources to assist anyone creating accessible content, especially less-technical users.
Accessibility support for Excel –Microsoft help articles for assistive technology users.

Outlook

Make your Outlook email accessible – Microsoft’s step-by-step instructions with pictures and links to relevant documentation.
Create more accessible Outlook email messages – Microsoft’s accessibility video training.
Accessibility support for Outlook – Microsoft help articles for assistive technology users.

Sway

Make your Sway design accessible – Microsoft’s step-by-step instructions with pictures and links to relevant documentation.
Accessibility support for Sway – Microsoft help articles for assistive technology users.