---
title: "How to Create Accessible Word Documents"
canonical: "https://kb.uconn.edu/space/IKB/26988904477/How%20to%20Create%20Accessible%20Word%20Documents"
format: markdown
---
This article is intended for students, faculty, and staff who are interested in making Word documents accessible.


<details>
<summary>Document Title & Author</summary>

1. Click on File found in the Word menu
2. Click Info
3. Under Properties, add the Title and Author if needed
</details>

<details>
<summary>Headers and Styles</summary>

- Use Styles found in the Home tab of the Ribbon
- Modify the heading format by right mouse clicking on the Heading in the Styles panel
- *Emphasis* style is for italics and **Strong** is for bold
- Tip: Turn on Navigation Pane in Word to see the structure. Click on View in the Ribbon and turn it on under Show section
</details>

<details>
<summary>Alternative (Alt) Text</summary>

- Do not start alt text with “picture of“ or “graphic of”
- Validate auto-generated alt text
- Include enough information for end user
- Exclude information found near the image (example: caption below image)
- Include alt text for images with hyperlink
- Tip: You can turn on/off the Automatic Alt Text setting found in File > Options > Accessibility
</details>

<details>
<summary>Descriptive Hyperlinks</summary>

- Write link text where it is going, for example [IT Accessibility](https://accessibility.its.uconn.edu/)
- Do not use “click here”, “learn more”, “read more”
- Do not underline text that is not a link because keyboard users may think it is a link that is inaccessible
</details>

<details>
<summary>True Tables</summary>

- Use only data for tables
- Designate top row as the header for each column
- Turn on Repeat Header Row (found under Layout menu item when table is highlighted)
- Add Alt Text to the table
- Cannot create accessible table if using split cells, merged cells, or nested tables in Word when exporting to PDF
- Tab through each cell to check for navigation (left to right and down)
</details>

<details>
<summary>Adequate Color Contrast</summary>

[Detailed information and steps](https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/pages/resumedraft.action?draftId=26989166615&draftShareId=e2bd18f0-247f-428f-994e-558c1f20d030) to ensure adequate color contrast.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Avoid Justified (Centered) Formatting</summary>

- Creates inconsistent spacing, which can force the reader’s eyes to “jump” when reading
- Becomes a serious issue with using assistive technologies (AT), for example screen magnifiers
</details>

<details>
<summary>Accessibility Checkers</summary>

- [Microsoft Office](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/improve-accessibility-with-the-accessibility-checker-a16f6de0-2f39-4a2b-8bd8-5ad801426c7f)
  - Click on Review in the Ribbon and then Check Accessibility
  - Turn on Navigation Pane
- [HuskyCT/Blackboard Ally](https://ally.ac/)
  - For courses and websites
</details>

<details>
<summary>Creating PDFs from Copiers</summary>

- Be sure to [OCR the document](https://uconn.atlassian.net/l/cp/NeY7HKgL) before scanning to PDF
</details>