Advanced Creating Accessible Documents: Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office is used for nearly all the communications that organisations provide as online documents, send as emails, or convert to HTML. Ensuring the information we create in Microsoft Office is fully optimised for accessibility is an essential ingredient for a sustainable accessibility strategy. This advanced workshop will teach the skills needed to create accessible Word documents, Excel workbooks, PowerPoint presentations and Outlook emails.

Suitable for anyone who uses Microsoft Office, we’ll teach you how to ensure your digital communications are accessible to everyone, including people with a disability or impairment. Plus, you’ll gain free access to our Document Accessibility Toolbar (DAT) eLearning module!

Developed in accordance with WCAG 2.1 and best practices cultivated by our team of experts, this workshop supports inclusive design in alignment with the Australian Government’s Digital Service Standard.

Course Content

This highly comprehensive course was designed for a general audience – no prior knowledge of accessibility is required. Taught using Microsoft Office 2016 on PC, a basic working knowledge of Microsoft Office is recommended. Those who use a different version of Office (especially 2010 or 2013) are encouraged to attend as the learning outcomes will be the same.

Background to document accessibility
- How inaccessible documents affect different disability groups
- How people use assistive technologies to access content within digital documents
- Australian legal requirements
- Applicability of WCAG 2.1 and PDF/UA standards to electronic documents

Techniques to create accessible electronic documents:
- Language
- Use of colours
- Text format
- Links
- Layout
- Accessibility checker

Techniques for accessible Word documents:
- Images and alternative text
- Including complex diagrams and charts
- Headings
- Lists
- Tables
- Columns
- Tables of content
- Text boxes
- Document title

Techniques for accessible forms:
- Simple
- Simulating form controls using tables
- Interactive
- Associate fields with labels
- Test and modify the focus order
- Apply editing restrictions
- Adding Help Key (F1) help
- Error messages

Demonstration of the MS Word Document Accessibility Toolbar (DAT)

Word to PDF:
- Use the built-in PDF maker
- Configure the PDF maker for accessibility
- Test the resulting PDF for accessibility

Core techniques for accessible Excel spreadsheets:
- Instructions
- Tables of content
- Worksheet title
- Charts
- Data Tables

Core techniques for accessible PowerPoint presentations:
- Slide layout
- Images and shapes
- Reading order
- Motion, flashing, transitions and animations

Core techniques for accessible Outlook emails:
- Format
- Structure in HTML documents
- Image placement
- Alternative text
- Hyperlinks
- Signatures
- Special characters and emoticons
- Attachments
- Subject
- Plain text email

Course Materials

You’ll receive a comprehensive manual containing:

Step-by-step instructions on how to implement techniques using Microsoft Office.
The rationale for using specific techniques and positive impacts for the end-user.
Explanations, examples, tips and tricks to help you apply accessible practices day-to-day.

Cost and Inclusions

Prices listed are per person, including GST. Catering is provided.

Early bird (registrations confirmed more than 21 days prior): $715
Group rate (registrations for 4 people or more): $715
Full price: $795

Cancellations

You may only cancel your registration by written notice to digitalaccess@visionaustralia.org. If notification of cancellation is received by Vision Australia: (i) more than 14 days prior to the event, a full refund of your registration fees, less an administration fee of $16.50, will be provided; (ii) between 7 and 14 days prior to the event, a refund of 50% of your registration fees, less an administration fee of $16.50, will be provided; (iii) less than 7 days prior to the event, registration fees will not be refunded.

Course enquiries

Phone: 1300 367 055
Email: digitalaccess@visionaustralia.org