How to Check Your Microsoft Office Documents for Accessibility Issues

Friday, February 13, 2026 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Click here to register

Friday, February 27, 2026 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Click here to register

This session covers how to check Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents for accessibility issues and correct common problems before converting files to PDF.

Training Syllabus

1. Introduction to Accessibility & Its Importance (5 mins)

What is accessibility and why it mattersOverview of assistive technologies and users’ needsImportance of accessible Office documents and PDFs

1. Making Office Documents Accessible (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) (10 mins)

Using built-in Accessibility Checker in MS Word, Excel, PowerPointKey tips for each app:Word: Use heading styles, alt text for images, tables with headersExcel: Use clear column headers, avoid merged cells, add descriptive sheet namesPowerPoint: Use slide titles, alt text for images, meaningful reading order, sufficient color contrast

1. Creating Accessible PDFs from Office Files (10 mins)

Exporting PDFs directly from Word, Excel, PowerPoint with accessibility in mindCommon PDF accessibility issues from Office exports and how to fix themOverview of Adobe Acrobat Pro for PDF accessibility fixes (tags, alt text, reading order)

1. Live Demonstration (10 mins)

Check accessibility in Word and PowerPoint filesExport an accessible PDF from WordUse Adobe Acrobat Pro to check and improve PDF accessibility

1. Q&A and Resources (5 mins)

Answer questions from participantsProvide useful links and checklists for Office and PDF accessibility

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