What is the Accessibility Checker?
On a Mac, you have access to the Accessibility Checker. This tool can help identify potential issues in your documents, emails, or presentations that could prevent people with disabilities from easily accessing and understanding the content, ensuring your digital materials are inclusive and usable for everyone regardless of their abilities. This tool helps you catch problems like missing alt text on images, poor color contrast, and incorrect heading structures, allowing you to make necessary adjustments before sharing your word document.
How to Run the Accessibility Checker (macOS)
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To launch the Accessibility Checker, do one of the following depending on the app you are using:
In Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, select Review and choose Check Accessibility.
In OneNote, select View and choose Check Accessibility.
In Outlook, while writing or replying to an email message, select Edit on the toolbar and choose Check Accessibility.
If you don't see the button on the toolbar, you need to add it there manually. Select (See more items) and choose Customize toolbar. Then drag and drop the Check Accessibility button to the toolbar.
The Accessibility pane opens and issues are organized into Warnings, Errors, and Tips under Inspection Results.
For example, if the report shows you are missing Alt Text:
- Describe all visual objects with an Alternative Text (Alt Text).
- Explain “why” the image relates to the content. The Alt Text is read aloud by screen reading software. Review the following article to learn more about How to create Alternative Text.
- Review the following article for more in-depth information: How to Use the Accessibility Checker in Word (Desktop Mac)
How to Add Alternative Text (Alt. Text) to Images in the Word
Describe all visual objects with an Alternative Text (Alt Text).
- Explain “why” the image relates to the content. The Alt Text is read aloud by screen reading software
Right click on the image.
Select "Edit Alt. Text..."
