Google Docs

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Important Highlights

• Headings: structure your documents with Google's built-in Styles; specifically focus on headings and structure them similarly to how you would a document outline. For example, the main topic heading would be a Heading 1, section headings within this topic would be Heading 2, and so on.

• Hyperlinks: avoid using statements such as "click here" and "this link"; instead, use descriptive text for your hyperlinks so that students using assistive technologies know what they are clicking on.

• Use of Color: ensure that the colors you use are of sufficient contrast; one good way to test this is to print the page in black and white and confirm that the differences can still be interpreted; WebAIM's Contrast Checker is also a good resource.

• Alt Text: add alt text to visual content including tables, images, and graphs; right click on the content, select "Alt Text", and type your alt text into the description section.

Headings

Structure the document using the “Styles” section, specifically the Headings. These should be organized throughout the document similarly to an outline. For example:

Heading 1 (main topic heading)

Heading 2 (subtopic heading)

Heading 3 (sub-subtopic heading)

Heading 2 (subtopic heading)

PRO-TIP: To keep better track of your headings (since they usually don't appear indented in the document), you can use the Document Outline to get an overall view of how the document is organized. To enable the Document Outline, click the "View" tab at the top of Docs and ensure that "View document outline” is checked.

Hyperlinks

Hyperlinks are important to send a reader to more information, but the reader should know where they are going when they click the link and why.

• Always use descriptive hyperlinks.

  • "Click here to learn more" doesn't help a person know where the link will take them.

  • Try to make the hyperlink a few words long so that people with weak motor skills can still use the mouse to click.

• Hyperlink URL addresses should begin with http:// or https://.

Ensure that the content that the link takes the reader to is also accessible.

Use of Color

A significant portion of the population has some form of color blindness. It is important to not rely solely on color to convey the necessary information.

• Partner color with other meaningful information like text, shape, or pattern.

• Use high contrasting colors. If you're unsure if your colors contrast enough, check out WebAIM's online contrast checker.

One great way to check this is printing the presentation or document in black and white and reviewing - can the meaning still be understood without color?

Alt Text

When descriptive text is added to any visual element, communication is clear and direct because users can read and know the exact information others want them to know. Without descriptive text, communication is indirect and unclear because it relies on the user to be able to see and interpret the information in the picture.

• Right click on the content

• Select "Alt text”

• Type your alt text into the description section

Additional Considerations

• Avoid serif fonts and italics unless it is required by specific formatting guidelines such as APA or MLA.

• Use styles embedded in Google for bullets and numbered lists.

• Use the Columns feature in Google for laying out text in multiple columns as opposed to using the tab button or tables to format.

• DO NOT use tables to format a document. Tables should be used to represent data only.

• Draft, date, version, or information should be in the central document and not just in the header/footer areas.

• The reading order of content and other visual objects should be logical.

  • Avoid Text Wrapping images and avoid using text boxes. These things throw off the reading order of the document and are nearly impossible for most people to adjust accessibly.

• Insert a Table of Contents for larger documents. This is key for easy navigation.