The Accessibility Assistant

What is the Accessibility Assistant?

The Accessibility Assistant is a built-in feature in Microsoft 365 that provides real-time guidance to help you create accessible documents, slides, and emails. It offers suggestions as you work so your content is usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.

Note:The Accessibility Assistant is not a substitute for human judgment. Even after fixing all issues found by the Assistant, it it is still very important to have a human review.

What doesn’t it do?

The Assistant has limits and may not detect or fully address:

  • Alt text quality: It can check if alt text exists, not whether it is meaningful.
  • Color-only cues: Cases where color alone conveys meaning (e.g., red = error).
  • Language changes: Sections written in a different language from the document default.
  • Vague link text: Links like “click here” or “read more” that lack context.
  • Plain language and reading level: It doesn’t assess clarity, tone, or complexity.

How to use the Accessibility Assistant

Accessing the Assistant

  • Word (Desktop): Go to Review > Check Accessibility to open the side pane.
  • PowerPoint (Desktop): Go to Review > Check Accessibility to open the side pane.
  • Outlook (while composing): Select Check Accessibility on the ribbon.

Working with suggestions

  • Review the recommendation: Read the explanation to understand the issue.
  • Apply the fix: Make the suggested change if it fits your content and intent.
  • Dismiss when appropriate: Not every suggestion will apply to every scenario.

Standards and resources

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