Make Your Content Accessible - Documents and Presentations

Quick Tips for Accessibility

1. Always use headings instead of increasing font size.
2. Always add alt text to images and tables.
3. Always use automatic numbered or bulleted lists.
4. Always emphasize text using "strong" or "emphasis" instead of bold or italic.
5. Always confirm that accessibility is preserved when converting document types.

Detailed information on specific accessibility items

All links open a PDF document with step-by-step instructions.
Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed on your computer to open PDF documents. Download Adobe Acrobat from the Adobe website.

* Each subject of the following table is expandable. Please click/tap the subject if you want to see the links to the instructions

Alt Text | Screen readers rely on alt- text to describe images.

Alt Text | Screen readers rely on alt- text to describe images.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Word	Alt text in Word for Windows (pdf)	Alt text in Word for Mac (pdf)
Microsoft Powerpoint	Alt text in Powerpoint for Windows (pdf)	Alt text in Powerpoint for Mac (pdf)

Document Conversion | When converting a document from one format to another, accessibility can be lost.

Document Conversion | When converting a document from one format to another, accessibility can be lost.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Adobe Acrobat	Document conversion in Acrobat for Windows (pdf)	Document conversion in Acrobat for Mac (pdf)

Emphasizing Text | Screen readers cannot recognize bold or italic, but can recognize strong and emphasized fonts.

Emphasizing Text | Screen readers cannot recognize bold or italic, but can recognize strong and emphasized fonts.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Word	Emphasizing text in Word for Windows (pdf)	Emphasizing text in Word for Mac (pdf)

Headings | Headings allow a screen reader to navigate through a document.

Headings| Headings allow a screen reader to navigate through a document.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Word	Headings in Word for Windows (pdf)	Headings in Word for Mac (pdf)

Hyperlinks | Screen readers require descriptive text of where a URL leads.

Hyperlinks | Screen readers require descriptive text of where a URL leads.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Word	Hyperlink in Word for Windows (pdf)	Hyperlink in Word for Mac (pdf)
Microsoft Powerpoint	Hyperlink in Powerpoint for Windows (pdf)	Hyperlink in Powerpoint for Mac (pdf)

Lists | Using the numbered or bulleted list features makes it clear that the items are hierarchical and/or part of a group.

Lists | Using the numbered or bulleted list features makes it clear that the items are hierarchical and/or part of a group.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Word	Lists in Word for Windows (pdf)	Lists in Word for Mac (pdf)
Microsoft Powerpoint	Lists in Powerpoint for Windows (pdf)	Lists in Powerpoint for Mac (pdf)

Reading Order | Ensures that a screen reader will read a document or PowerPoint in the intended order.

Reading Order | Ensures that a screen reader will read a document or PowerPoint in the intended order.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Powerpoint	Reading order in Powerpoint for Windows (pdf)	Reading order in Powerpoint for Mac (pdf)

Header Rows| A header row at the beginning of a table allows a screen reading program to read the table in a logical order.

Header Rows| A header row at the beginning of a table allows a screen reading program to read the table in a logical order.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Word	Header Rows in Word for Windows (pdf)	Header Rows in Word for Mac (pdf)
Microsoft Powerpoint	Header Rows in Powerpoint for Windows (pdf)	Header Rows in Powerpoint for Mac (pdf)

Slide Titles | In PowerPoint, slide titles allow a screen reader to navigate through the slides as desired.

Slide Titles | In PowerPoint, slide titles allow a screen reader to navigate through the slides as desired.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Powerpoint	Slide titles in Powerpoint for Windows (pdf)	Slide titles in Powerpoint for Mac (pdf)

Table of Contents | Automatically generated tables of contents allow users to easily move through the document.

Table of Contents | Automatically generated tables of contents allow users to easily move through the document.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Word	Table of contents in Word for Windows (pdf)	Table of contents in Word for Mac (pdf)

Use of Color | Certain colors are difficult or impossible for users who are color-blind to read.

Use of Color | Certain colors are difficult or impossible for users who are color-blind to read.

PROGRAM	GUIDE FOR WINDOWS PC USERS	GUIDE FOR MAC USERS
Microsoft Word Microsoft Powerpoint Adobe Acrobat	Use of color for Windows (pdf)	Use of color for Mac (pdf)

View instructions for: Windows   Mac OS   Windows + Mac OS