Microsoft Office Accessibility

Navigating Microsoft Office accessibility can feel overwhelming, but our dedicated category makes it easier than ever. When you’re writing in Word, creating presentations in PowerPoint, or managing data in Excel, you’ll find step-by-step guides, expert tips, and practical solutions to help make your content accessible to everyone.

Learn how to use built-in accessibility tools, optimize settings for readability, and apply best practices that enhance usability. Join us in transforming Microsoft Office into a more inclusive and user-friendly experience for all.

This page focuses on WordPPTExcel, and Section 508 for Microsoft.

How to use the Microsoft Word Accessibility checker

Microsoft Word includes a built-in Accessibility Checker to help users identify potential accessibility issues in their documents. While the tool can highlight …

Accessible comments and paragraph marks in MS Word

Accessibility in digital documents plays a vital role in inclusive communication. Microsoft Word provides many tools to support collaboration and formatting, but …

how to add a hyperlink in Microsoft Word and make it accessible

Today’s post shows how to insert hyperlinks in Microsoft Word and ensure they are accessible, clear, and inclusive. It provides step-by-step instructions, …

how to add a hyperlink in Microsoft Word and make it accessible

Today’s post shows how to insert hyperlinks in Microsoft Word and ensure they are accessible, clear, and inclusive. It provides step-by-step instructions, …

Accessible slide transitions in PowerPoint

Today’s post presents a simple and effective alternative to traditional PowerPoint slide transitions, ensuring that every user can follow along without complications. …

4 tips for Excel Accessibility

Accessibility in spreadsheets is often neglected, yet making your Excel files easier to navigate can dramatically improve usability for everyone. These four …

How to convert a PDF to Accessible Word using ABBYY FineReader

Today’s post is a step-by-step guide on how to convert a PDF into an accessible Microsoft Word document using ABBYY FineReader. Video …

New Word to PDF export accessibility updates

Today’s post highlights recent updates to Microsoft Word that improve document accessibility when converting to PDF. Title and heading styles now export …

How to set up an accessible bar chart template in Microsoft Word

Today’s post demonstrates how to design an accessible bar chart template in Microsoft Word using pattern fills instead of relying on color …

Convert PDF to Excel with ABBYY FineReader

Converting scanned PDF documents into structured, editable Excel files is essential for professionals managing data-rich documents. Today’s post shows how ABBYY FineReader …

How to set up a template in Word for easy accessible conversion to PDF

Creating accessible templates in Microsoft Word is essential for organizations that publish documents like meeting agendas, notices, or forms. This guide outlines …

How to make an Excel Form accessible

Ensuring your Excel forms are accessible is essential for creating inclusive experiences for users with disabilities. Today’s post demonstrates how to build …

How to name tables in Excel

Accessible spreadsheets benefit everyone—especially those using assistive technologies. One quick and impactful way to improve accessibility in Excel is by giving tables …

How to edit PowerPoint slide masters for accessibility

Customizing PowerPoint slide masters is an essential step in creating professional, cohesive, and accessible presentations. By editing elements like logos, footers, fonts, …

Accessible emails in Outlook

This guide explains how to use Microsoft Outlook’s accessibility features to create accessible emails. By formatting text, designing accessible tables, and adding …

How to create an accessible icon in Microsoft PowerPoint

Accessibility in design ensures that content is understandable and usable for everyone. Today’s post explains how to create accessible icons in Microsoft …

How to make an accessible textbox effect in Microsoft Word

Ensuring accessibility in digital documents is essential for inclusivity. Traditional text boxes in Microsoft Word often pose challenges for assistive technologies like …

How to create an organizational chart in Visio from Excel

Creating an organizational chart in Microsoft Visio from pre-populated Excel data offers a streamlined approach to visually representing an organization’s structure. This …

How to create an organizational chart using a list in PPT

Creating an organizational chart can be challenging, especially with large data sets. This guide walks you through a simple method to build …

New Microsoft Word Accessibility Features for 2025

In its ongoing effort to support accessibility, Microsoft introduced several new accessibility features across Office 365 applications. These tools, including immersive reading, …

How to use the read aloud feature in Microsoft365

Microsoft 365 includes a built-in feature called “Read Aloud,” which reads documents aloud, making them more accessible for users with varying needs. …

Don't use alt text for screenshots of tables

Today’s post explores best practices for table accessibility. One common mistake in accessibility is using alt text for screenshots of tables instead …

How to create accessible math using MathPix Snip

Accessibility in digital documents is essential for inclusivity, particularly when working with complex content such as mathematical equations. Today’s post outlines the …

How to apply and modify lists for MS Word

Using lists effectively is essential for organizing information clearly and ensuring accessibility in Microsoft Word. Today’s post explains how to apply and …

Text boxes in MS Word are not accessible

Text boxes in Microsoft Word are a common feature, often used to place content freely within a document. However, they pose significant …

How to make an accessible excel spreadsheet

Today’s post walks through the steps to make an accessible Excel spreadsheet, highlighting best practices and useful tips. Video Guide Descriptions and …

How to make charts and graphs accessible in MS Word and PDF

Charts and graphs are essential tools for data visualization in Microsoft products, but they are inherently inaccessible to screen readers, posing a …

How to make tables accessible in Word for Section 508 compliance

In today’s post, we’re diving into table accessibility in Microsoft Word, to make your documents compliant with Section 508 standards. This guide …

How to choose files in PowerPoint for Section 508 compliance.

Creating Section 508-compliant file names is crucial for accessibility, especially for PowerPoint presentations. In this guide, we will walk through the process …

How to create and customize headings in MS Word.

In today’s post, we’re tackling how to create and customize headings. This skill is essential not only for aesthetic document presentation but …

How to use patterns, headings, lists, and symbols in MS Word to meet Section 508 accessibility standards.

In today’s post, we explore the importance of using patterns, headings, lists, and symbols to show emphasis in Microsoft Word documents to …

How to create an accessible PowerPoint presentation using ChatGPT 4.0

In today’s digital world, accessibility in content creation is crucial. In today’s post, we’ll learn how to effortlessly create accessible PowerPoint presentations …

How to set the reading order of a slide in PowerPoint for Section 508 compliance

Ensuring that the reading order of elements in a PowerPoint slide is correct is crucial for making the presentation accessible, especially for …

How to Insert Footnotes | Section 508 for MS Word

In today’s post, we’re exploring the powerful world of footnotes and how to seamlessly insert them using the Insert Footnote option in …

How to use the list feature in MS Word to ensure your lists are Section 508 compliant

In today’s post we learn how to use the list feature in Microsoft Word to ensure your documents are accessible and compliant …

How to adjust page margins in MS Word

In today’s blog post, we’re diving into a crucial aspect of document formatting: adjusting page margins in Microsoft Word. This might seem …

How to crop an in image in Microsoft PowerPoint

Today’s post focuses on an essential skill for crafting visually appealing, accessible presentations: how to crop an image in Microsoft PowerPoint. Video …

How to add page numbers in MS Word

In today’s blog post, we’re tackling a simple yet essential task: adding page numbers to a Microsoft Word document. This process is …

How to add animations to text within PowerPoint

Today we’re learning how to add animations to text within PowerPoint slides. Why add animations? PowerPoint animation—or movement— can be useful in …

How to customize page numbering in MS Word using section breaks

Today, we’re diving into a handy Microsoft Word feature, section breaks. With this, you can customize the page numbers displayed on any …

How to use heading styles in MS Word for Section 508 Compliance

In today’s post, we’re diving into how to effectively use styles in Microsoft Word to ensure your documents meet Section 508 accessibility …

How to add footnotes and endnotes in MS Word

In today’s post, we’re diving into the practical uses of Microsoft Word, specifically focusing on how to use the Insert Footnote and …

How to insert page numbers in a Word document for Section 508 Compliance

In today’s post, we’re going to cover an essential aspect of document accessibility: inserting page numbers in Microsoft Word, while ensuring that …

Learn what happens when you convert a Canva presentation to PowerPoint.

In today’s post, we’re examining what happens when you convert a Canva presentation to PowerPoint. You’ll learn what to look for to …

How to use Microsoft 365 PowerPoint Live

In today’s tutorial where we’ll explore PowerPoint Live, a game-changing feature in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365. This innovative tool revolutionizes the way …

A review of what happens when you convert an accessible Google Slides presentation to PowerPoint.

In today’s post, we’re examining what happens when you convert an accessible Google Slides presentation to PowerPoint. You’ll learn what to look …

How to add patterns and color to charts in Microsoft Word

In today’s blog post, we’ll dive into the crucial topic of making charts accessible in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, a skill that …

A step by step guide to using Microsoft Word dictation tool

In today’s tutorial, we’re diving into the efficient use of the dictation tool within Microsoft Word. This feature proves invaluable for note-taking …

Best practices for creating descriptive URLs and links in MS Word for Section 508 compliance

Today we’re diving into the crucial topic of making Microsoft Word documents compliant with Section 508 of The Rehabilitation Act: ensuring URLs …

A blog post explaining how to add slide numbers to Power Point presentations.

Adding slide numbers in PowerPoint can sometimes be a puzzling task. This blog post is inspired by a personal challenge I faced …

Understanding how to make links accessible in MS Word documents for Section 508 compliance.

Today, we’re diving into a crucial aspect of making Microsoft Word documents compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: ensuring keyboard …

How to ensure MS Word documents comply with color contrast ratio of 4.5:1 using tools and manual checks.

Creating accessible documents involves adhering to modern content standards like Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This post centers on achieving the …

A blog post explaining how to use the Accessibility Checker in PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint offers a built-in accessibility checker that is invaluable for making presentations accessible to everyone. This tool helps identify and fix …

Section 508 Compliance for Word, add alternative text

Welcome to another post in our series focusing on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we explore the importance …

Removing flashing, flickering, and animated text from MS Word documents

Welcome to another post in our series focusing on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we learn the importance …

Managing track changes in MS Word for accessibility

Welcome to another post in our series on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we explore how to manage …

How to remove watermarks and background images from Word documents for section 508 compliance

Welcome to another post in our series on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure Section 508 compliance. Today, we learn how to remove …

How to add descriptive captions to charts and graphs in MS word

Welcome to another post in our series focusing on enhancing Word accessibility to ensure compliance with Section 508. Today, we explore how …

Use sans serif font to ensure your Word documents are Section 508 compliant.

Today’s topic is how to set accessible fonts in Microsoft Word documents, to ensure section 508 compliance. Using the right font is …

How to make your table of contents accessible in Word for Section 508 compliance.

In today’s blog post, we’ll dive into the essential skill of creating a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word. This simple yet …

How to set document properties and language in MS Word for Section 508 compliance.

Today we’re diving into the crucial topic of making Microsoft Word documents compliant with Section 508 of The Rehabilitation Act: setting document properties …

Ensure your Word file name is less than 30 characters in order to be Section 508 compliant.

Today we’re diving into the crucial topic of making Microsoft Word documents compliant with Section 508 of The Rehabilitation Act: ensuring the file …

This post will explore how to use MathPix snip to convert a PDF full of math images into an accessible Word document …

Making math accessible to everyone is crucial. Today, we explore how MathPix Snip can help. This tool captures math problems and turns …

Today, we’re learning the importance of fixing navigation issues in Microsoft Word documents. Video Guide Sometimes the navigation pane in Microsoft Word …

Microsoft Word Accessibility is an essential aspect of document creation, offering a wide range of features to enhance user experience and ensure …

Video Overview The patch for this error is at the bottom of the post. You need to download this update from Adobe: …

In the digital age, it’s essential to ensure accessibility and inclusivity. A common tool like PowerPoint should be no exception to this …

Today we dive into the process of creating accessible forms in Microsoft Word and converting them into PDFs for enhanced accessibility. Although …

Welcome to a comprehensive guide on how to create an accessible PowerPoint presentation. In this guide, you’ll learn the best practices for …

Welcome to our tutorial on displaying and fixing slide footers, dates, and slide numbers in PowerPoint presentations. Whether you’re using templates or …

Introduction Welcome to the Accessibility Guy channel! In today’s post, we will be discussing how to convert a bilingual table created in …

Microsoft Immersive Reader is a powerful tool that can help students engage with written text. In this blog post, we’ll explore how …

The accessibility checker is a great tool to use AFTER you have already implemented accessibility principles into your MS Word document. For …

So you want to make your hyperlinks accessible? There are a few rules about hyperlinks for text. These exist because of how …

Alternative text, descriptions of images (Alt text), helps users understand the picture’s significance (or lack of). This content is typically only accessed …

It’s easy to make tables accessible in Microsoft Word! Simply ensure that every table has a table header set, a style applied, …

There are many ways to format list items in Microsoft Word incorrectly – this post will cover the right ways to do …

Headings in Microsoft Word documents help with general navigation and are a key component in creating accessible documents. Those who use screen …

I can’t keep count of the number of times I have been asked to convert Word documents to PDF, so here is …

Every accessible PowerPoint slide must have a title, which may interfere with the layout of a slide. Instead of deleting the title, …

Did you know you can change the way that your headings look in Microsoft Word? The default heading colors might not be …

Video Text Transcript This video is going to look at applying columns to a document in Microsoft Word. Let’s apply some columns …

Do you need some hands-on PowerPoint accessibility practice? Below you will find a practice file and an answer key file. There is …

This post will guide users through creating an accessible pie chart in PowerPoint. Pie charts and bar graphs are inherently inaccessible when …

Table accessibility is an important aspect of creating accessible PowerPoint files. Be sure to follow all basic table accessibility features. Unsure of …

This post will cover link accessibility in PowerPoint. Accessible links can be applied to both text and images. This post will cover …

Lists and PowerPoint accessibility are essential for Section 508 compliance. This post will cover the difference between unordered and ordered lists, and how to apply them in PowerPoint.

The reading order in PowerPoint is an important criterion for Section 508 and accessibility in general. The reading order will read from …

Slide titles should be unique. Every slide in the slide deck should have a purposeful name. It’s easy to use duplicate titles …

Today’s post focuses on alternative text and decorative images in PowerPoint. Images need accurate descriptions for students who rely on screen readers. …

Content should appear in the outline view. Sometimes using textboxes can interfere with accessibility, so only use them if they are a …

This post will walk users through how to apply a theme to a PowerPoint for accessibility purposes.