When creating your Word documents for use within your Moodle courses, there are some important strategies that can be implemented without a lot of extra effort. It is important to begin to think about accessibility at the outset of creating your document. There are eight elements in making word documents accessible.
- Creating properly structured documents using Stylesheets, and Heading Styles
- Providing text alternatives (Alt tags) for images and graphics
- Setting text-wrapping around objects (images, text boxes, tables) to Top and Bottom or In Line With Text
- Ensuring that all text has strong contrast with the background colour
- Using Headers and Footers appropriately
- Using font types and spacing correctly
- Correctly formatting tables and columns
- Providing unique hyperlink labels
- Providing document navigation
The following excellent video from California State University, explains each in detail along with links to additional videos. This video is also Closed Captioned (select 'CC' in the video toolbar).
Microsoft Word Built-in Accessibility Checker
The Accessibility Checker checks your document against a set of possible issues that users who have disabilities might experience in your file. Each issue is classified as an Error, a Warning or a Tip.
- With your document open, select the File tab
- Select the button, Check for issues, and then from the drop down menu, select Check Accessibility.
After you have run the Accessibility Checker, a task pane will show information about why the content might be inaccessible. Selecting the issue then gives instructions on how to repair or revise it.
- Find and Fix errors using the Accessibility Checker (Video): Microsoft
- Using the Accessibility Checker (online instructions): Microsoft
Additional References
- Authoring Techniques: Word 2010: Accessible Digital Office Document (ADOD) Project
- Creating Accessible Word Documents (Step by step written instructions): Microsoft Offfice Learning Resources
- Accessible Word 2010 Documents (PDF): Fresno State
