Page header image
November 8, 2021: Word and Google Doc Accessibility - What are headings and why should we use them?
Accessibility Goal of the Week
This week we continue our series on Word and Google Doc accessibility by learning about the importance of appropriate heading structure.
What are headings?
Also known as “styles” in Word, headings are a way to "tag" text in your page in order to define its importance in the document's structure. We use these tags in the same way we think of an outline; the title of the page is typically heading 1 , while main headings are heading 2, subheadings are heading 3, and so on. All text that is not a heading can be considered "paragraph" text.
The following example shows a heading level outline. Notice that you can have multiple
instances of heading level 2's, 3's and 4's as appropriate, but there is only one
heading level 1:
Why should we use headings?
Headings provide many benefits to all types of students. For example, they:
- help segment material on the page and help students understand the hierarchy of topics and subtopics.
- help visual learners understand how the subtopics relate to the main topics, and with one another.
- provide individuals using screen readers with a simple method to navigate within a content page.
- give an auditory cue to the screen reader user of the importance and semantic structure of the content page. A screen reader announces the heading level of each object. Without headings, the text will read as plain paragraph text.
Can I just use bold, large text for my headings?
Simply put, the answer is no. While increasing the font size and making text bold may look like headings, they will read as regular paragraph text with screen-reading software. Specific tag mark-up in the HTML code is needed to indicate true headings.
Consider the following two examples. The first video is a recording of JAWS (a common screen-reading software) reading a Canvas page on the five themes of geography. It has been formatted without headings, although you will notice that font size, bolding, and indenting have been used.
Now listen to the same page read with JAWS, but this time with the proper heading structure added. Notice the verbal cues that JAWS gives when encountering a heading.
Next week we will learn specific steps for adding headings to your Word and Google Docs.
Tasks completed? Congratulate yourself on reaching this week's goal. Your efforts
matter!
Want some support as you work towards your goal? Accessibility Ambassadors are ready to help in the Digital Learning Lab on Tuesdays from 9:00-11:00 am and Fridays from 3:00-4:00 pm, or reach out to an Ambassador via the directory.
Back to the Accessibility Goal of the Week archive