Creating Accessible Documents

When creating content, there are a few basic steps that should be followed in order to assure your content is accessible. The core steps needed for accessibility are the same regardless of whether your document is in HTML, Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, or another document format:

• Use headings
• Use lists
• Use meaningful hyperlinks
• Add alternate text to images
• Identify document language
• Use tables wisely
• Understand how to export from one format to another

To gain a better understanding of these core issues, see our Overview of Accessible Documents.

To apply each of these concepts to a particular document format or authoring workflow, select one of the following topics:

• Creating accessible documents in Microsoft Word
  
• Creating accessible presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint
  
• Creating accessible PDF forms using Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Creating accessible PDF files from Microsoft Word

Creating High-Quality Scanned Documents

Sometimes it is necessary to scan a document for an instructional need. When documents are in electronic form, they are easier to distribute and can be more accessible than print documents for students with disabilities. However, in order to be fully accessible, certain steps must be followed to be sure the scanned document is of high quality. Even if a document is not needed for a person with a disability, a poor scan often negatively impacts the end user’s experience. For details, see  Creating High-Quality Scans.