Deeper Dive: Errors, Warnings, and Tips

All non-text content has alternative text (alt text).

All objects have alt text and the text doesn’t contain images or file extensions.

Screen readers speak the alternative text to describe images and other non-text content that users can’t see. Based on the alt text of non-text content, users should understand the purpose and meaning.

Tables specify column header information.

Tables and/or blocks of cells have the header box selected or a header row indicated.

Users rely on the table headings to understand the content that is subsequently read by the screen reader. Also, assistive technology often uses the table header row to help convey to the user the current cursor location in the table and to provide information that enables the user to navigate the table.

All slides have titles.

Slides have titles.

Slide titles enable users to navigate within a presentation, including finding and selecting a single slide to immediately go to.

Documents use heading styles

Content is organized with headings and/or a Table of Contents (TOC).

Headings and TOCs provide structural context to users and enable navigation and easier searching in the document.

Hyperlink text is meaningful.

Link text makes sense as standalone information, providing accurate information about the destination target.

Based on the text, users decide whether to click a hyperlink. The text should provide clear information about the link destination.

Table has a simple structure.

Tables are simple rectangles with no split cells, merged cells, or nesting.

Users navigate tables via keyboard shortcuts and assistive technology, which rely on simple table structures.

Tables don’t use blank cells for formatting.

There are no entirely blank rows or columns in the table.

Blank table cells can mislead a user into thinking that there is no more content in the table.

Sheet tabs have meaningful names.

Sheets in the workbook include descriptive information and there are no blank sheets.

Descriptive sheet names, such as “October sales totals,” make it easier to navigate through workbooks than do default sheet names, such as “Sheet1.”

Avoid the use of repeated blank characters.

There are no runs of blank spaces, tabs, or carriage returns.

Spaces, tabs, and empty paragraphs often are read as blanks by assistive technology. After hearing several “blanks,” people might think that they have reached the end of the information.

Avoid the use of text color that doesn't stand out from the background color.

The contrast between text and background colors is sufficient.

People with low vision often find it hard to read text that does not contrast with the background.

Closed captions are included for inserted audio and video.

All audio and video objects have closed captioning.

Without captioning, the information in a video or audio segment may be entirely lost to people with disabilities.

The reading order of a slide presentation is logical.

Slides appear in a logical order.

Assistive technology reads slides and the elements on them in the specified order. If the reading order isn’t logical, the content doesn’t make sense.

Slide titles in a deck are unique.

Non-blank slides have unique titles.

Users rely on titles to know where they are in the deck and to navigate the deck.

Layout tables are structured for easy navigation.

The layout order is logical for the language, and the tab order is not circular.

Users rely on the table layout to navigate through the content. It must be ordered logically for users to understand and navigate the content.

No image watermarks are used.

There are no watermarks.

Watermarks might be misunderstood as being part of the main content on the page and could cause confusion.

All headings are in the correct order.

All headings follow a logical order.

Sequential headings with appropriate levels help users navigate, search, and understand the document’s organization.