• Microsoft Products have a built in Accessibility Checker to help users identify inaccessible content and provides solutions. 
• To access the Accessibility Checker, go to the Review Tab of your Ribbon, and click the Check Accessibility Icon. The tool will analyze your document and provide suggestions on how to resolve any issues it finds. 
• Be mindful that the Accessibility Checker may not find all issues, and it is important for you to know how to be knowledgeable in best practices for accessibility. 

Additional Resources

• How to use the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Applications.

Headings are not for design only. Tags are assigned so individuals using a screen reader understand the document. It is important to be mindful of the order in hitch you are using them. 

Headings Order

• Use your headings in order
• Heading 1: Document title. Used only once
• Heading 2: Main document topics. Used multiple times
• Heading 3: Subheadings of Heading 2
• Heading 4: Subheadings of Heading 3
• Heading 5: Subheadings of Heading 4

Updating Headings Style

• To apply a new formatting style to a heading, select your desired text and click the appropriate heading number option within the Ribbon.
• To set heading styles, right-click on the desired heading number and click "Modify."
• From here, you can adjust font, color, alignment, and more. 

Additional Information

• Adding a Heading to a Word Document

We have a vast audience accessing SEMO web properties. This includes individuals of all education levels and English language skills. Keep your writing as close to as possible.

• Hemingwayapp is a very useful tool to help identify the writing level
• Literary Examples:
  • The Hobbit
  • To Kill a Mockingbird
  • A Wrinkle in Time
• Use plain language.
  • Avoid SEMO-specific acronyms
  • Avoid technical jargon
  • Avoid complex sentence structures
  • Plainlanguage is a good resource
• Keep it short. Keep it simple.
  • Users do not read walls of text.
  • Use short sentences, short paragraphs, and bulleted lists
• Avoid all caps for emphasis – it’s difficult to read. We depend heavily on the shape of words for reading comprehension.

• Do not attempt to make your own lists by typing in a character - use the list styling tiles in the ribbon to format your lists.

Additional Information

• View Microsoft List Tutorial

When linking to a website in text, whether in a Word doc or on a web page, your link text must be helpful.

Creating a Descriptive Link

• In your Word Document, highlight the word you wish to embed a link into. Right click on the word, and click "link."
• Copy the URL from your web browser, and paste it into the "address" box. 

Additional Considerations

• Link text must be helpful. Users must know where the link is going without reading the entire page.
• Do not use: "More Information", "Click Here", "Website", "Learn More", "Read More", etc.
• Do not copy and paste a web address or URL. 
• Example:  Located in the heart of downtown Cape Girardeau, the Rust Center for Media has more than 13,000 square feet of creative space. The center is home to photo, webcast, and television studios, SEMO’s award-winning student newspaper, a student-run advertising firm, and a student-run PR firm. Whatever your focus in media, we have a modern space to grow your skills.
• Note: Use underlines for hyperlinks only. Never underline text for emphasis, in a document, or on a webpage.

Additional Information

• View Microsoft Hyperlink Tutorial

We understand that images are a useful tool when creating documents. You won’t be adding them to webpages, but if you use them when creating a Word doc or PowerPoint, follow these rules:

• All images and graphics must either be described or marked as decorative.
  
  • Decorative must only be artistic and cannot be a photo or text. 
  • Avoid descriptions that include: "Photo of", "Image of", "Picture of", etc.
  • Alt text should describe the image so a visually impaired reader understands what is on the page. 

Additional Information

View Microsoft Alt Text Tutorial

• Example of good alt text: "A SEMO student with his laptop and books receives tutoring from another student"
• Only use the "Mark as Decorative" option if something is truly for decoration only.
• Avoid using the auto-generated alt text option

When you choose colors for your document, it’s important to use shades that provide enough contrast between content and background for anyone with vision issues, including colorblindness.

• If it is hard to read in grayscale, there is not enough contrast
• Check your contrast with the WebAIM Contrast Checker
• Red on black/black on red will only meet accessibility requirements at WCAG 2.1 AA with large text.
  • Best practice is to avoid using white on red; use white on black in graphics instead.

Additional Resources

• For all color contrasting questions, from changing font color to adjusting a screen for colorblind learners, refer to the Microsoft Color and Contrast for Accessibility Page.

The Word table of contents tool depends upon headings being used appropriately in your document. It will also act as document navigation when created correctly.

Place your cursor at the point in your document where you would like a table of contents to appear. 

Adding Table of Contents

• Click on “References” in the ribbon, and then click “Table of Contents.”
• In the drop-down, select a Table of Contents style.
• Your Table fo Contents will now appear in your document. 

Additional Information

• How to Insert a Table of Contents in Word.

Tables are difficult to make accessible when used in any other way than for data organization. All tables must have a header row.

Avoid using a table to format text. Uses lists and paragraphs instead.

Additional Information

• If you need to include a table in your Word Document, refer to the Microsoft Table Tutorial for Additional Information