The Microsoft Accessibility Checker helps ensure that your Office files are accessible.
Where is it available?
- Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, and PowerPoint on Windows, Office for the web, or Mac.
- Canvas.
What does it do?
- It finds most accessibility issues and explains why each might be a potential problem for someone who needs assistive technology to access the information.
- It also offers suggestions on how to resolve each issue.
What types of problems does it find?
The Accessibility Checker identifies three types of problems: Errors, Warnings, and Tips.
- Errors are the most serious and have suggestions and examples of how to fix these items.
- Warnings are less serious but also provide ways to fix problems in documents that could become Errors.
- Tips help with providing ways to eliminate simple problems that may prevent a student from fully interacting with accessibility tools. When there is content that people with disabilities can understand but that could be better organized or could be presented in a way that can improve their experience, you see a tip.
What does it look like?
- Usually, the Accessibility Tool is available in the Review Section of the App Ribbon at the top of the screen. This is for all the Microsoft tools. The link for the Accessibility Checker is on the left. Select the Check Accessibility option.
