A wide range of disabilities make conventional computers difficult, if not impossible, to use.
Probably the most problematic are visual disabilities because computers are so visually oriented.
In real life, objects can be touched, tasted, heard and smelled, but a computer image is a wholly visual entity.
Text is also a problem, although solutions have been on the market for some years. These include screen reading devices which translate text into audible speech, or into a Braille output device.
OFFICE 365 OFFERS INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY
Microsoft Office 365 already offers a number of features which help with accessibility, and new features continue to be developed.
Consider some new releases as well as plans for 2017:
Accessible Templates
In December, Microsoft rolled out several new accessibility features. Word, Excel and PowerPoint all now offer “accessible” templates. These are structured to optimize navigation with only a screen reader and keyboard, not a mouse, which is unusable by the visually impaired. These templates also use fonts and colors which are easier to process by those with color blindness or who suffer limited visual ability.
Image Alt Tag Assistance
One of the basic ways documents are being made more accessible is through the use of “alt tags” for images. Alt tags display descriptive, “alternate” text when the image cannot be seen. Originally, they were invented for the internet for cases when an image failed to load. But they also assist the visually impaired. A screen reader can read “boy playing with dog” rather than relying on the user to see an image of a boy and dog playing.
Office 365 applications now give you the ability to add alt tags to your documents. Further improvements this year will simplify the process of adding alt tags, including offering suggestions for them.
URL Display Names
Cutting and pasting URLs into documents has always been an ugly business. For the visually impaired, the result becomes an unpronounceable mess. Starting in 2017, Office 365 will allow URLs to be given a helpful display name which provides information about the page to which the URL is linked. It will even provide suggestions.
Accessibility is about more than just convenience for those who benefit. Legally, businesses must make certain accommodations for the disabled, and existing and upcoming accessibility features in Microsoft Office 365 can help your office meet those legal requirements.
For more information, call CMIT Solutions of Stamford at 203-595-9091 or complete the form on this page.
