What Makes Digital Content “Accessible”?

“Accessible” means that individuals with disabilities are able to independently acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services within the same time frame as individuals without disabilities, with substantially equivalent ease of use.

Digital content that 51ԹϺ faculty, administrators, and staff manage and must present as accessible includes, but is not limited to:

  • Websites and web applications
  • Online course materials
  • Video content
  • Audio
  • Images
  • Word documents
  • PowerPoint presentations
  • PDF files

The full scope of what constitutes related digital content is listed in the January 2020 51ԹϺ digital accessibility policy.

The Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) offers training on accessibility topics throughout the year. Visit the Accessibility Training, Workshops & Open Labs page to learn more or view the  for a calendar view of our upcoming training opportunities.

Microsoft Word Accessibility

Intentional and knowledgeable use of Word’s built-in tools supports digital accessibility. When creating or maintaining an accessible Word file, like a syllabus, hand-out, or curriculum vitae, please keep the following settings in mind:

  1. Headings – Use the built-in style tools presented to make structural headers that also function for navigation. Don’t merely make dividers of content via varied font sizes and bolding.
  2. Lists – Use your authoring tool’s options for defining content that must be presented in a specific sequence (a numbered or “ordered” list) or can be in a non-sequential collection (a bulleted or “unordered” list). Assistive technology, like screen readers, can differentiate between the types, which is crucial to viewers’ understanding of such content.
  3. Tables – Use tables to present data rather than for setting up the layout of a page. Utilize your authoring tool’s table creation feature to build simple tables that include a summary.
  4. Figures/Images – Ensure that each image has appropriate and useful alt text (alternative text) provided. Alt text is used by assistive technology to describe what is shown to those unable to access it visually.
  5. Hyperlinks – Provide meaningful labels which visitors may select to visit locations on the web. If printouts are of concern, note that Canvas (also known as WebCampus) provides a facility that exposes each web address when you output to a printer or a PDF.
  6. Color and Contrast – Do not rely solely on color to convey meaning. Ensure that your text has sufficient contrast from the background.

Our Foundations of Accessibility (FOA), Accessible Syllabus, and Accessible CV training include hands-on portions for Microsoft Word accessibility.

Word Accessibility Resources