Microsoft Excel Accessibility Checklist

Guides Tutorials

File Setup

The document file name does not contain spaces and/or special characters.
The document file name is concise, generally limited to 20-30 characters, and makes the contents of the file clear.
Have the document properties for Title, Author, Subject (Description), Keywords, Language, and Copyright Status have been completed.
The file's language is set.
Tracked changes have been accepted or rejected and turned off.
Comments have been removed and formatting marks have been turned off.
There are no blank sheets in the workbook.
All sheets have unique, clear and concise sheet names that allow users (and assistive technology) to identify the sheet's content.
There is information in cell A1. (If your sheet does not contain data in cell A1, include important information about using the sheet in the cell.)

The document utilizes accessible fonts and formatting (i.e., widely available and readable fonts like Times New Roman, Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, or Calibri).
The content is clear and concise.
All links in Excel use descriptive hyperlinks that let users know about the content of the linked page prior to selecting it (i.e., avoid generic phrases like "click here").
The color contrast ratio between foreground text and background color is sufficient (the Microsoft Accessibility Checker should check this).
If color is used to emphasize important text, you have also used an alternative to color to convey information.

All images, grouped images, and non-text elements that convey information have meaningful alternative text.
Complex images (charts, graphs, diagrams, etc.) have descriptive text near the image (such as a caption or long description).
The document does not contain images of text whenever possible (text within images disappear when images are not available). If images of text are used to convey information, that text is present in alternative text or in a nearby description.

All tables in the document have designated row and/or column headers in Table Design properties.
All tables have column header information specified.
Tables follow a simple table structure (no nested tables).
All tables are properly titled and identified in both the Table Name and the Alt Text.
Tables have been properly defined based on the structure of headers (i.e. columns, rows, columns and rows).
All cells and ranges that would benefit from being named are named. Use the Name Manager to check and edit all existing names within the document to ensure proper designation and reading order.
There are no blank rows or columns within the table (or blank cells, if possible).
There are no split or merged cells within the table (if possible).
Include text at the end of the data sheet that signifies the table has ended.

If sensory information (e.g., shape, size, color, visual location, orientation, sound, etc.) is used to convey information, you have provided an alternative method to convey that information.
Your document passes the built-in Office Accessibility Checker.
You reviewed the Excel Accessibility support article.
When there is no other way to make the content accessible, you have provided a separate accessible version of the content near the original version.
Contact the Accessibility Network if you are having trouble.