This guide is designed to provide you with the quickest possible access to guidelines on accessibility, with a particular focus on Microsoft software. As educators, we have a collective responsibility to ensure our materials work for the full range of learners.  You have found your way to this guide: the chances are that you already agree that this work needs to be done, and so we have not included the ‘why’ of accessibility.  Time is at a premium, so here we jump straight into the ‘how’.  While our focus is on Microsoft software, you should find that the same principles apply across all platforms, with equivalent processes to follow for your preferred Apps.

As HE educators, it is likely that when we learned to use our common software, we did so as students.  We therefore may not realise how many supports are waiting for us within the programs themselves.  Much of what follows is not ‘more for us to do’: it’s about becoming aware of time-saving functions that are right in front of us.

How to use this resource

There are three sections within the book, which has been structured to help you get to the right information, as quickly as possible:

1. How Do I… these are short, sharp guides on how to do specific things in an accessible way.
2. Creating a New..: if you are creating resources from scratch, use these chapters to ensure that you build in all the right features from the start.
3. Updating your existing..: if you have a bank of resources which you’ve built over the years, these chapters will walk you through the quickest ways to adapt them for better accessibility.

So – jump in, and because we really want this to be used, please don’t hesitate to contact us with suggestions and updates (email link for updates or comment, below).  Also, please share the resource with colleagues as widely as you can.