Microsoft Accessibility Resources
Microsoft offers several accessibility resources including LinkedIn Learning training courses and guides for developing accessible content. More information can be found at the Microsoft Accessibility Training Essentials Site.
Click the buttons below to learn more about Microsoft's accessible productivity tools, content, meetings, and resources:
Productivity Tools
Windows 11
Inclusively designed with and for people with disabilities, our most accessible version yet. Built-in accessibility features support productivity, creativity, and ease of use.
- Live captions
- Voice access
- Narrator
- Focus mode
Productivity Tools by Product:
Windows:
- Text size
- Mouse pointer/touch
- Narrator
- Magnifier
- Contrast themes
- Captions
- Speech recognition
- Color filters
- Focus (W11)
PowerPoint:
- Designer
- Translator
- Dictate
- Rehearse with coach
Word:
- Read aloud
- Dictate
- Immersive reader
- Focus
- Translator
Outlook:
- Read aloud
- Dictate
- Immersive reader
- Translator
Productivity Tools by Category:
Vision:
- Narrator
- High contrast
- Color filters
- Seeing All
- Magnifier
Hearing:
- Visual notifications
- Closed captions
- Mono audio
- Extend notifications
Mobility:
- Sticky, filter, toggle keys
- Speech recognition
- PowerPoint designer
- Dictate
- Eye control
Neurodiversity:
- Simplify/personalize Windows
- Focus
- Do not disturb
- Rehearse with coach
Mental Heath:
- Simplify/personalize Windows
- Night light
- Focus
- Outlook Tasks
Learning:
- Immersive reader
- Predictive text
- Editor
- Read aloud
- Dictate
Teams:
People can participate in virtual and hybrid meetings in the way that works best for them.
- Captioning (CART and real-time)
- Audio transcription
- Live reactions
- Sign language view
- Custom backgrounds
- Noise suppression
- PowerPoint Live, Excel Live
- High contrast
Copilot:
- Dyslexia:
- Summarize a document or webpage
- Writing an email reply
- Inspire me in Word
- Rewrite the following text in plain language
- Neurodiversity:
- Change the tone of my email
- Summarize past projects, stakeholders, and resources
- Teams meeting chat interrogation
- Mobility:
- Teams meeting recap
- Create first draft of a document or presentation
- Search for conversations - email, Teams chat, documents
- Access companywide information
- Vision:
- Summarize an inaccessible document
- Summarize a whiteboard
- Create a first draft of a document or presentation
Accessible Content
Word:
Create accessible documents:
- Run accessibility checker
- Accessibility indicator
- Use built in headings & styles
- Add alternative text to images
- Add meaningful hyperlink text
- Sufficient color contrast
- Avoid conveying information with color alone
PowerPoint:
Create accessible presentations:
- Run accessibility checker
- Accessibility indicator
- Check reading order
- Give every side a unique title
- Use a larger font size (18pt or larger), sans serif fonts, and sufficient white space
- Add closed captions to videos
Excel:
Create accessible spreadsheets:
- Run accessibility checker
- Accessibility indicator
- Tables: avoid split/merged cells, nested tables, blank rows/columns
- Add text to cell A1
- Give all worksheets unique names, and remove blank worksheets
Outlook:
Create accessible emails:
- Run accessibility checker
- Accessibility indicator
- Add spacing between paragraphs
- Use bulleted or numbered lists
- Turn on accessibility warnings
- Turn on automatically generated alt text option
Accessible Meetings
Tips for accessible meetings:
- Ask participants what type of accessibility/accommodation they need
- In invitation, let participants know what accessibility options are available:
- Captions/translation
- Recording/transcription
- Hide identity
- Sign language view
- Run Accessibility Checker on content
- Make content available prior to meeting
- Ensure adequate lighting on speakers
- Blur background
- Be mindful of chat
- Use PowerPoint Live
- Accessibility tips for inclusive Microsoft Teams meetings and live events
Accessible Resources
Get Support:
Ask Microsoft Accessibility
- Leverage AI to Ask Microsoft an accessibility question via a chatbot: aka.ms/askmA
Disability Answer Desk
Enterprise Disability Answer Desk
- Accessibility support for organizations, businesses, and schools
- Assist with accessibility questions for Microsoft products and services
- aka.ms/eDAD
Productivity Tools Links:
By Application:
By Category:
Accessible Content Links:
Inclusive Meeting Links:
Inclusive Meeting Tips:
Tips for Participants:
Learn More Links:
Microsoft Learn:
LinkedIn Learning:
Accessibility Links: