Overview
This page is an overview of creating accessible Excel spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. Accessible spreadsheets allow information to be readily available for assistive technology. Screen readers can easily navigate the content when accessibility is considered during the design process. This will not only benefit people with disabilities, but overall usability will improve for all users. Accessibility is for everyone.
Tutorials
Video Tutorials
Video Credit: The University of Alabama, Technology Accessibility - Creating Accessible Excel Spreadsheets (total length 49:58 mins)
Creating Accessible Excel Spreadsheets Segmented Videos
- Accessibility Checker (start time: 2:43)
- Sheet Names (start time: 6:51)
- Built-in Styles and Templates (start time: 8:26)
- Easy to Navigate by Section Headings (start time: 11:44)
- Descriptive Filenames (start time: 15:13)
- Blank, Merged, or Split Cells (start time: 16:49)
- Tables Header Row (start time: 20:24)
- Hyperlinks (start time: 22:32)
- Image Alternative Text (Alt Text) (start time: 28:10)
- Color Contrast (start time: 33:58)
- Converting to PDFs and Tags (start time: 39:13)
- PDF Accessibility Checker (start time: 44:48)
Best Practices
- Always add accessibility to an Excel Sheet during the design/creation process. Do not wait until the end to add accessibility.
- Use the Accessibility Checker to scan your spreadsheets.
- Save the file name with dashes or underscores between words such as Excel-Document-Accessibility.xlsx or Excel_Document_Accessibility.xlsx.
- Consider readability for content development.
Resources
- How to Make an Accessible Spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel (training videos)
- Microsoft Excel Accessibility Reference (pdf)
- Excel Tips by Penn State
- Microsoft Support on Making Excel Spreadsheets Accessible
- Excel and label everything in your graph with talking software
- Excel 2013 & 2016: Creating an Accessible Excel Spreadsheet, Part 1
- Excel 2013 & 2016: Creating an Accessible Excel Spreadsheet, Part 2
- Excel 2013 & 2016: Accessible Excel Forms, Part 1
- Excel 2013 & 2016: Accessible Excel Forms, Part 2
