Accessibility Tools in Word and Other Microsoft Office Applications
Consider using some of these accessible features when creating content in Office applications.
Transcribe
Available in:
- Word (online)
- OneNote (Windows platform)
Allows you to:
- Turn audio files into written transcripts
- Record and transcribe audio in real time
Useful for:
- Writing interview transcripts
- Pulling out key information from long videos and audio files
- Recording lectures or audio materials assigned to students
Dictate
Available in:
- Word (online and desktop)
- OneNote (online and desktop)
- PowerPoint (online)
Allows you to:
- Turn your speech into text
- Access certain text editing features with the sound of your voice
Useful for:
- Creating and editing essays
- Creating comments for classmates during peer review sessions
- Grading and feedback
Immersive Reader
Available in:
- Word (online and desktop)
- PowerPoint (online)
- OneNote (online and desktop)
Allows you to:
- Customize your Word interface when working on a document
- Change the color of the foreground and background
- Change column width and texts per line
Useful for:
- Close readings
- Preventing eye strain
- Focusing on a written piece line by line
Focus Mode
Available in:
- Word (desktop)
Allows you to:
- Block or hide everything except for your document
- Focus on what is important
Useful for:
- Drafting essays
- Editing and grading essays
Read Aloud
Available in:
- Word (desktop)
Allows you to:
- Have written texts read outloud to listen to them
Useful for:
- Non-visual reading
- Grading papers
Alt Text
Available in:
- Word (online and desktop)
- OneNote (online and desktop)
- PowerPoint (online and desktop)
- Excel (online and desktop)
Allows you to:
- Describe/caption an image
- Communicate the content of an image to users who rely on screen readers
Useful for:
- Making your content accessible to everyone, including people who use screen readers
Accessibility Checker
Available in:
- Word (online and desktop)
- PowerPoint (online and desktop)
- OneNote (online and desktop)
- Excel (online and desktop)
Allows you to:
- Automatically check if your document’s content is accessible to users who may rely on screen readers
Useful For:
- Finding and fixing accessibility barriers
- Ensuring anyone with low vision or blindness can access your document