CREATING AN ACCESSIBLE DOCUMENT	

	

I.	TEXT

Ensure that the document is text based (as opposed to image based) so that it can be read by a screen reader. 

If the document is in .DOCX form, it is already text based.

If the document is in .PDF form, it may or may not be text based. To ensure that it is, run Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

-In Adobe Acrobat Pro XI: Click Tools  Click Text Recognition  Click In This File  Click All Pages  Click OK.

II.	STRUCTURE

	Ensure that the content is structured in a linearized manner with appropriate headings and 	subheadings. Headings identify sections and subsections so that end users utilizing a screen 	reader to access the content can navigate the document without sight.

	Audio only interface (for blind users) is presented in a linear fashion. 

	Content is read from top to bottom, left to right.

	To create headings:

-In Microsoft Word 2013: Click on the line desired to convert into a heading and press Ctrl + Alt + 1 for Heading 1 (main heading) -or- Ctrl + Alt + 2 for Heading 2 (sub heading) -or- Ctrl + Alt + 3 for Heading 3 (sub heading 3). 

III.	IMAGES

Ensure that images have the appropriate alternative (alt) text. Alt text is used to provide an audio description of an image for a student who is using a screen reader to access the document. 

To add alt text to an image:

-In Microsoft Word 2013: Right click on the image  Click Format Picture  Click Layout & Properties icon   Click ALT TEXT  Type in a textual representation of the image (e.g. Mt. San Antonio College logo).

IV.	FORMAT
	To maximize access, make the document available as an .RTF.
-In Microsoft Word 2013: Click FILE  Save As  Browse for the appropriate location  Click the pull down arrow by Save as type  click Rich Text Format.