Create accessible documents using Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word and its documents are widely used, including by individuals with disabilities.

As a functional program, Microsoft Word is reasonably accessible. Text from Word documents can be read by assistive technologies such as screen readers or Braille devices.

However, in order for Word documents to be as accessible as possible, authors must follow the core guidelines outlined in the General guidelines for accessible documents. Listed below are the basic steps to implement additional core accessibility principles specific to Word.

These guidelines and screenshots apply specifically to Microsoft Word 2013 on Windows. There may be differences when applying the techniques in other versions of Microsoft Word.

For downloadable cheat-sheets and information about other versions of Word, please visit the National Center on Disability and Access to Education’s section on Word.

Add lists to a document

Word also provides built-in options that group content into unorganized seta (bulleted list) or sequential steps (numbered list).

Lists will not be conveyed accurately by assistive technology if they aren’t created by Word’s built-in tools. Make sure to use the built-in options, otherwise the list will difficult to understand and navigate.

The numbered list and bulleted list options are located under the Paragraph group on the Home tab of the Ribbon.