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• Properly format headings.

1. Select the text that you want to make into a heading.
2. Go to Home tab.
3. Choose the appropriate heading level from the Styles group.

• Use Heading in the correct order.

1. Heading 1 should only be used ONCE per page. Heading 2, 3, etc. can be used multiple times. DO NOT skip heading levels! 

•  Add alternative (Alt) text to images.

Word 2011 - 2013

1. Right click on the image and select Format Picture...
2. (2011, 2103) The Format Picture window will open.
3. Select the Layout & Properties icon (see image)
4. Enter Image description in the Description field (Not the Title field).

Word 2016

1. Right click on the image and select Select “Edit Alt Text”.
2. In the area “Alt text” you can now describe the image in one or two sentences

• Format a list as a list.

1. Select the text to make into a list and click on the Home tab.
2. In the Paragraph group, select the Numbering or Bullets icon.
   1. Use Numbering Lists if a sequential order is important to the list.
   2. Use Bullets Lists if all items are of equal value. 

• Create a link that described its destination.

1. Type out text that describes the destination of the link. (i.e. VolState).
2. Select the text, right click and choose Hyperlink... from the menu.
3. The Insert Hyperlink window will open. Enter a URL address in the Address field (Mac - Word 2011: Link to Fields).
4. Click the OK button to save the link. 

• Use the MathType plugin for MS Word to create math and science equations, formulas and notations. Contact IT to install MathType on your computer
• Do Not use Microsoft's equation editor. 
• Note: MathType objects do Not need alt text. 

• Indicate column headers for data tables.

Add table to document:

1. Click on the Insert tab on the ribbon.
2. Click on the Table button and select Insert Table.
3. Select the number of Columns and Rows you want to start with and click OK.

Indicate column headers: 

1. Place the cursor in the top row of your data table.
2. Click on the Layout tab under Table Tools (Mac: Table tab)
3. In the Data group, click the Repeat Header Row button. 

• Screen reader reads a table from left to right/top to bottom (never repeating a cell.
• Merged, nested, and split cells may change the reading order of a table.
• Construct your table in a way that accommodates a good reading order.
• To test the reading order, place your cursor in the first cell of a table. On the keyboard, press the Tab key repeatedly to navigate through the table.
  This will be the reading order that assists technologies will use.

• Use enough color contrast between the font and its background colors.
• Without sufficient color contrast, people who have low-vision or are color blind will not benefit from the information. 
• Use the Color Contrast Analyzer tool (contact IT to install on. your computer).

Do NOT use color alone to convey meaning.

• Don't use color alone to make a distinction. If you categorize something by color alone, those who are color blind or blind will not be able to benefit from the information.

Label form fields and buttons.

• Use a form template to create a form
• Use real text labels from form fields and alternative text for buttons

Check the reading order of forms.

• Press the tab key repeatedly to check the order a screen reader would navigate through the form. If it doesn't land on the form fields in the correct order, you will need to edit the form. 
• The tab order (or reading order) is important to those who are blind or physically disabled and rely on keyboard access.

• Properly format headings.

1. Select the text that you want to make into a heading.
2. Go to the Styles menu (or "Normal text") and choose the appropriate heading level from the Normal text drop down list. 

• Use Heading in the correct order.

1. Heading 1 should only be used ONCE per page. Heading 2, 3, etc. can be used multiple times. DO NOT skip heading levels! 

•  Add alternative (Alt) text to images.

1. Select the image.
2. From the Format menu choose Alt text.
3. Type in description text in the Description field (Not the Title field).
4. Click the OK button when done.

• Format a list as a list.

1. Select the text that you want to make into a list, and do one of these:
   1. On the Format menu, choose Lists & select Numbered or Bulleted list.
   2. Go to the icon toolbar and choose the Numbered or Bulleted list icon. 

• Create a link that described its destination.

1. Type out the text that describes the destination of the link (i.e. VolState).
2. Select the Insert Link icon (Ctrl/Cmd + K).
3. The Link window will open. Type the URL of the webpage in the Link field (i.e. http://www.volstate.edu).
4. Then click the Apply button to save the link.

• Math and science equations and formulas cannot be written accessibly in Google Docs. 

• Indicate column headers for data tables.

Google Docs doesn't allow you to designate column or row headers, so keep your tables small so they are understandable without headers.  

• Screen reader reads a table from left to right/top to bottom (never repeating a cell.
• Merged, nested, and split cells may change the reading order of a table.
• Construct your table in a way that accommodates a good reading order.
• To test the reading order, place your cursor in the first cell of a table. On the keyboard, press the Tab key repeatedly to navigate through the table.
  This will be the reading order that assists technologies will use.

• Use enough color contrast between the font and its background colors.
• Without sufficient color contrast, people who have low-vision or are color blind will not benefit from the information. 
• Use the Color Contrast Analyzer tool (contact IT to install on. your computer)

Do NOT use color alone to convey meaning.

• Don't use color alone to make a distinction. If you categorize something by color alone, those who are color blind or blind will not be able to benefit from the information.

Label form fields and buttons

• Use Google Forms, NOT Google Docs.
• Press the tab key repeatedly to check the order a screen reader would navigate through the form. If it doesn't land on the form fields in the correct order, you will need to edit the form.
• The tab order (or reading order) is important to those who are blind or physically disabled and rely on keyboard access.