Word documents are among the most popular document formats at Texas Tech, and with good reason. The accessibility features within Microsoft Word are strong and comprehensive making it the best way to create accessible documents. The list below includes the actions that need to be taken to ensure a high level of accessibility in Word documents.

Word Document Accessibility Checklist 

• Include headings to create structure. The title and headings within the document must be assigned proper heading levels using the Styles function in Word. 
  
  
• Add alternative text for all images. All images in the document require an alternative text or, in some cases, a long description. 
  
  
• Use descriptive links. All hyperlinks should be descriptive rather than simply saying, "Click Here". 
  
  
• Work with colors in an accessible way. Colors should not be used alone to indicate emphasis and should be sufficiently contrasting.
  
  
• Ensure table accessibility. Tables should remain simple, always include a header row, and follow other accessibility guidelines. 
  
  
• Format lists correctly. All lists should be created using List Styles in Word. 
  
  
• Correctly converting to PDF. Word documents should be converted to PDFs in a way that retains the accessibility information and tags. 
  
  
• Check your document using the Accessibility Checker. While it can't do everything for you, the Word Accessibility Checker can be used to assist with document accessibility. 

If you need any assistance with Word document accessibility, please contact us at elearning.oa@ttu.edu