Word Accessibility Fundamentals
Learn what makes a Word document clear, navigable, and usable beyond its visual appearance. This introductory session explains how headings, lists, tables, links, color, and images affect the way people experience a document using assistive technology.
Location: Online via Zoom
Duration: 60 min
Your Instructor
Shawn Jordison – ‘The Accessibility Guy’
Shawn Jordison, known as The Accessibility Guy, has more than 17 years of experience helping organizations create accessible documents, training, and content that meet Section 508, WCAG, and PDF/UA standards.
About the session
A Word document can look polished on the screen and still be difficult for some people to read or navigate. The difference often comes down to the structure and meaning built into the file—not simply its visual formatting.
In this introductory session, participants learn how Section 508 and WCAG relate to Microsoft Word documents and why features such as headings, lists, tables, links, color, and alternative text matter. The course explains how assistive technologies interpret document content, what commonly goes wrong, and what a well-structured Word file should look like.
Participants will also become familiar with the Word features used to support inclusive document creation and review. This is a conceptual course designed to build a strong foundation before moving into hands-on remediation.
No previous experience is required.
What You’ll Learn
- How document structure differs from visual formatting
- How Section 508 and WCAG apply to Word documents
- How headings help readers understand and navigate a document
- When to use lists and how list structure can break
- What makes a table understandable beyond its visual layout
- How to write links that make sense out of context
- When color creates confusion or hides meaning
- What useful image descriptions need to communicate
- How common Word document problems are identified
- Which built-in Word tools can support the review process
After This Session, You’ll Be Able To
- Explain how structure affects the way people navigate and interpret Word documents
- Spot common problems involving headings, lists, tables, links, color, and images
- Describe the qualities of a well-structured Word document
- Recognize the limits of visual review and automated checking
- Identify when a document may require hands-on remediation
Who Is This Course For?
This course is a good fit for:
- People who create, edit, review, or publish Word documents
- Employees who have recently taken on document compliance responsibilities
- Communications, training, administrative, and content teams
- New accessibility professionals who need a stronger Word foundation
- Anyone preparing to take the Microsoft Word Accessibility Applied workshop
Logistics
Location: Online via Zoom
Duration: 60 min
Start Time: 12:00 PM PT
Certification: Certificate of Completion issued to attendees who complete the full session
FAQs
Is this a hands-on session?
No. This is a conceptual fundamentals session. It explains what to look for, why it matters, and how Word documents are evaluated. Hands-on correction and remediation are covered in the Microsoft Word Accessibility Applied workshop.
Do I need prior accessibility experience?
No. The course is designed for people who are new to this work.
Do I need special software to attend?
No, you can simply watch and learn.
Will this help me understand Word’s built-in review features?
Yes. The course provides an overview of Word features that support document review. Hands-on use of those features is covered in the Applied workshop.
Is this useful if I review documents created by other people?
Yes. The course will help you recognize common problems and understand when a document may need additional review or remediation.
What materials are included?
Attendees receive a topic-specific Word accessibility cheat sheet.
Will a recording be available?
The recording isn’t included, but it can be purchased separately for a fee.
What do I need to attend?
Join from any computer with a reliable internet connection. We use Zoom to provide an engaging, interactive learning experience. A microphone is recommended for participating in discussions, and a webcam is optional but encouraged.
How accessible is the training?
As accessibility specialists, we design our training to be inclusive from the start. Sessions include live captions, and if you have accessibility requirements, we’ll work with you before the course to help ensure a successful learning experience. If you need additional support, contact us.
Related products
PDF Accessibility Applied
$200.00
