These are the free resources we use ourselves, chosen for people who make documents. Every link was checked on 1 October 2026. For what the words mean, see accessibility words, in plain English.
Understanding accessibility
- W3C: Introduction to Web Accessibility
What accessibility is, who it’s for, and why it matters, from the people who write WCAG.
- W3C: How People with Disabilities Use the Web
Short stories of real people and the tools they use. The best way to understand who you’re making documents for.
The standard
- W3C: How to Meet WCAG (Quick Reference)
Every WCAG 2.2 success criterion, filterable by level. Dense: use it to look things up, not to read through.
Word and Google Docs
- Microsoft: Make your Word documents accessible
Microsoft’s own guide, with steps for Windows, Mac and the web.
- Microsoft: Improve accessibility with the Accessibility Checker
What Word’s checker looks for, and how to fix what it finds.
- Google: Make your document or presentation more accessible
Google’s own guide for Docs, Sheets and Slides.
- WebAIM: Microsoft Word
A clear, independent walk-through of accessible Word documents, from a long-standing nonprofit.
- Section508.gov: Create accessible documents
The US federal government’s guidance and training for Word, PDF and more.
Pictures and color
- W3C: An alt Decision Tree
A few yes-or-no questions that tell you what alt text a picture needs, if any.
- WebAIM: Alternative Text
How to write alt text that helps, with examples.
- WebAIM: Contrast Checker
Enter two colors, get the contrast ratio and whether it passes.
Hear your own document
- NVDA
A free screen reader for Windows. Listening to your own document for five minutes teaches more than any checklist.
- Apple: VoiceOver User Guide for Mac
VoiceOver is built into every Mac; turn it on in System Settings, under Accessibility. Apple’s guide covers the basics.