Today’s topic is how to set accessible fonts in Microsoft Word documents, to ensure section 508 compliance. Using the right font is a big step in making your Word documents accessible to all.
Video Guide
What Are Accessible Fonts?
Accessible fonts don’t slow user reading speed. This is especially important for those with low vision or reading disability, or people who are blind. The right font improves the legibility and readability of the document.
The sans-serif font family is fully accessible. Examples include Arial, Calibri, Century Gothic, Helvetica, Tahoma, and Verdana. Using one of these fonts helps your documents meet section 508 standards.
How to Change Fonts for Accessibility in Word
To change fonts, follow these steps:
- Open your Word document.
- Press Ctrl + A. This selects all text.
- Go to the Home ribbon.
- Look for the Fonts area.
- Choose an accessible font, like Calibri.
- Now your document has accessible fonts.

PRO-TIP: The Ctrl + A feature is powerful. It lets you change fonts for the whole document quickly.
Checklist and Further Resources
Enter your email below to receive our free comprehensive MS Word checklist. It will be your guide to ensure all your Word documents meet section 508 standards.
Download MS Word 508 Checklist:
I can be your accessibility expert. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!
More posts like this:
Alternative Text for Images and Non-text Elements in Microsoft Word |Section 508 for Word
Welcome to another post in our series focusing on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we explore the importance of adding alternative text to images and non-text…
Remove Flashing, Flickering, and Animated Text in Microsoft Word |Section 508 for Word
Welcome to another post in our series focusing on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we learn the importance of removing flashing, flickering, and animated text to…
Managing Track Changes in Microsoft Word|Section 508 for Word
Welcome to another post in our series on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we explore how to manage Track Changes effectively. This feature, while incredibly useful…
Removing Background Images and Watermarks in Microsoft Word |Section 508 for Word
Welcome to another post in our series on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we learn how to remove background images and watermarks from MS Word documents,…
Adding Descriptive Captions to Charts and Graphs in Microsoft Word |Section 508 for Word
Welcome to another post in our series focusing on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure compliance with Section 508. Today, we explore how to effectively use captions to describe charts and…
Table of Contents in Word for Accessibility – Create in 4 Easy Steps
In today’s blog post, we’ll dive into the essential skill of creating a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word. This simple yet powerful feature not only organizes your documents but…
How to set document properties and language in Microsoft Word | Section 508 for Word
Microsoft Word Accessibility is crucial for creating inclusive content. In this guide, learn how to set document properties to achieve section 508 compliance. The comprehensive list for Section 508 Compliance…
File name is less than 30 chars | Section 508 for Word
Welcome to a guide where we demystify Word Compliance with the standards set by Section 508. When creating or handling Microsoft Word documents, it is imperative to ensure they are…
Resolving Content Navigation Issues in Microsoft Word: A Practical Guide
Understanding Navigation Issues in Microsoft Word One might come across an unusual scenario where the navigation pane in Microsoft Word displays extra content that’s not supposed to be there. Instead…
Microsoft Word for Beginners
Video Overview Transcript of video Today we’re going to be covering the basics of Microsoft Word. If this is your first time to the accessibility guide channel, you should know…