Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
How to format your headings. Ensuring you format your
documents correctly with regards styles is the most important
action you can take to ensure your documents are accessible.
The use of headings and style structures can enable all users
(especially users with low vision or vision impairment) to
effectively navigate any document and as such, be
directed to the appropriate information with ease.
If a document is created without the proper use of styles and
structure the document can become hard to navigate and
access.
Creating headings - what not to do. Many people create headings
by changing the visual effect of their text, for example,
emboldening it, or using a larger font. However, this only
changes the look of the text. It does not change the formatting
and so those with vision impairments who use screen
readers will not be able to recognize these as headings and
so cannot navigate the document effectively.
How to format your headings. To create a heading highlight the
relevant text, go to styles under "Home" on the toolbar and
click on the relevant heading type. For example, main headings
are "Heading 1", Subheadings are "Heading 2" and so on.
Modifying the font and size of headings. When you use the
headings option, you may find that your headings are not
defaulted to the correct font and size for your document. For
example, this "Heading 1" is Times New Roman, italics and 12.
If I wish to change this to Arial, bold, I can do the
following: In the "styles" segment go to the heading in
question, in this case it's Heading 1. Right click and
select "modify". Change to Arial, size 14, bold (uncheck
italics). Check the box "automatically update" and
choose "new documents based on this template". You have now
defaulted your "Heading 1" for all new documents. You can do
the same for your "Heading 2", etc.
Benefits of formatting your headings. Formatting headings
makes a vast difference for users of screen readers, as it
allows them to navigate a document, and scan to areas of
interest.
However, formatting headings has other benefits too. It allows
you to create and update table of contents quickly and easily
and it allows you to create a document map for quick
navigation.
Creating and updating table of contents. Once you have your
heading styles completed, click your cursor at the top of your
document, before the first heading, that is where you would
like to situate your table of contents.
Once this is done, choose the references tab on the tool bar.
On the left choose "Table of Contents", "Insert Table of
Contents" and "Okay". You now have your table of contents
complete.
If you make any changes to your headings, either page numbers or
the heading title, you can quickly update your table by
right clicking on your table, choosing "update field" and
"update entire table"
Creating a document map. To create a document map choose
"View" on the tool bar. With the show/hide segment check the box
titled "document map". You will now have a full map of the
headings in your document. To read a segment you simply click
on that heading within your document map and the relevant
section will be displayed on your screen.