Checklist for MS Excel Workbooks
Please note that all links open in a new window, so you can read an explanation, close the window, and continue reviewing your checklist. The keyboard command to close the current window is Control + F4.
Checklist compiled from information found in the Microsoft accessibility pages, opens in a new window and the 508 checklist, opens in a new window provided by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Introduction
Assistive technology, such as screen readers and magnification software, rely on the underlying code in your workbooks and charts to make sense of the information you present. People who are blind or have low vision can understand your data more easily if you create your Excel workbooks and charts with accessibility in mind.
Download Accessible MS Excel Checklist
Document Basics
I used a readable sans serif typeface/font of a minimum of 12 point
- Why is font important?, opens in a new window
- How to select font in Excel, opens in a new window
- How to easily check the font in Excel, opens in a new window
I created the required color contrast
- Why is color contrast important?, opens in a new window
- How to create color contrast, opens in a new window
- How to easily check the contrast, opens in a new window
I gave the worksheet a descriptive file name
- Why is it important to save using a descriptive name?, opens in a new window
- How to save a worksheet with a descriptive name, opens in a new window
- How to easily check the file name in Excel, opens in a new window
Sheets and Tables
I gave all sheet tabs unique names, and removed blank sheets.
- Why is it important to use unique tab names and remove blank sheets?, opens in a new window
- How to rename or delete sheet tabs, opens in a new window
- How to easily check sheet tab names and blank sheets, opens in a new window
I prefixed each table (titled) with the table name and table number
- Why do I need to assign numbers and names to tables?, opens in a new window
- How to give a name/title to a table, opens in a new window
- How to easily check the table name/title, opens in a new window
I used a simple table structure, and specified column header information
- Why are tables important in Excel?, opens in a new window
- How to make sure a table is accessible in Excel, opens in a new window
- How to easily check headers and other issues in Excel, opens in a new window
I made sure the table header repeats at the top of the table as it goes from one page to another
- Why is it important to repeat the header information?, opens in a new window
- How to add headers, opens in a new window
- How to check headers are repeated, opens in a new window
Visual Content and Hyperlinks
I used alt text to create accessible images and other objects such as graphics and charts
- Why is alt text important in Excel?, opens in a new window
- How to add alt text to different kinds of visual content, opens in a new window
- How to check if visual content has alt text, opens in a new window
I added text to ensure that color (and other sensory characteristics) were not the only way to convey meaning
- Why are color and other sensory characteristics important in Excel?, opens in a new window
- How to add text to color and other sensory characteristics in Excel, opens in a new window
- How to easily check color and other sensory characteristics in Excel, opens in a new window
I added meaningful hyperlink text and ScreenTips
- Why are hyperlinks important in Excel?, opens in a new window
- How to add descriptive hyperlinks and screen tips in Excel, opens in a new window
- How to check hyperlinks in Excel, opens in a new window
Other Considerations
I excluded text boxes, watermarks, and flashing objects