What You'll Find in This Guide
This guide provides information about the accessibility features and support available across Microsoft Office applications, Adobe Acrobat, and other third-party products. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible experience for all users, including those who rely on assistive technologies to interact with digital content.
Within this guide, you'll find details about available accessibility features, compatibility with assistive tools, and recommendations for creating and consuming accessible content. As accessibility standards and product capabilities continue to evolve, we regularly review and update this guide to ensure the information remains accurate, relevant, and helpful.
Get Started - Self-Paced Course
In this training, you’ll learn how to create more accessible documents using the SCALS checklist: Structure, Contrast, Alt Text, Links, and Save as PDF. Through a combination of short demo videos and interactive scenarios, you’ll practice applying accessibility best practices in common Microsoft tools like Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. This course will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Microsoft 365
Word
- Customize Word Styles: Want your headings to look different while still maintaining accessible structure? To learn how to modify built-in styles instead of manually formatting text, visit Microsoft’s support article “Customize or Create Word Styles”
- Make Your Word Documents Accessible to People with Disabilities
Outlook
PowerPoint
Excel
Accessible PDFs
Accessibility Resources and Best Practices
Contrast Checker
- Visit the WebAIM Contrast Checker and verify that text and background colors provide sufficient contrast for readability. Aim for a ratio of at least 4.5:1.
PDF Accessibility Testing
- Download the PDF Accessibility Checker (PAC) to test exported PDFs for accessibility issues
Writing for Accessibility
- Visit the Plain Language Guide (Digital.gov) to learn how to create content that is easier to read and understand
Alt Text Resource
- Access the ALT Text Generator article in the Help Center and learn how to add a brief description to your images.
Accessibility Standards and Guidelines
- Visit the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) Reference Guide if you’re interested in learning more about the standards behind accessibility recommendations
Glossary of Terms
- Download this Accessibility Glossary PDF to learn the language of accessibility