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Microsoft Word Accessibility Overview

  • Course Description

    The first of a two-part series, this course introduces essential document accessibility practices, including creating effective headings and lists, using color appropriately, identifying document language, applying descriptive file names, and testing documents before distribution.

    Open Course

Course Details

Audience:

  • Document authors
  • Section 508 Program Managers
  • Section 508 Subject Matter Experts (SME)

Duration: 85 minutes
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Version: 1.0 (Sep 2026)

What Will I Learn in This Course?

This training is the first of two courses that will enable you to create accessible text documents.

After completing this training, you will be able to do the following:

  1. Organize your text document structure using headings and lists.
  2. Use color appropriately in text documents.
  3. Add accessible information to the document, such as language labels and file names.
  4. Test your document for accessibility and share it as a text document or as a PDF file.
In the second course in this series, Microsoft Word Accessibility for Document Designers, you will learn how to use specific features accessibly. This will allow you to add images, tables, columns, and other features in a way that will allow all users to access and understand the information in the document.

Certificate and Continuing Learning Points (CLPs)

Demonstrate your skills and stand out in your field with a certificate that proves you’ve completed this course. There is only one type of certificate offered for this course.

  1. By selecting "Open Course," you can earn a downloadable PDF certificate after completing the course and passing the required five-quesiton quiz with a score of at least 80%.
  2. This course is not offered with continuing learning points (CLP).

  • April 2026 - v1.0 | Release: Initial release of course with core lessons, practice quizzes, and foundational learning.

*Disclaimer: Reference in this site to any specific commercial product, process, or service, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by GSA. GSA does not guarantee that outside websites or products comply with Section 508 (accessibility requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act.
Reviewed/Updated: September 2026

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