A VPAT, which stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, documents a software's compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards. When purchasing software through IT Operations Management, we check to ensure that the vendor has a VPAT for the product. If you purchase software without going through IT Operations Management, always ask the vendor for a copy of its VPAT.

Remember to be informed by the Buffalo State Information Information Technology Purchases and Acquisitions Policy (PDF, 126 KB) before you purchase any technology.

A VPAT, which stands for Voluntary Product Accessibility Template, documents a software's compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards. When purchasing software through IT Operations Management, we check to ensure that the vendor has a VPAT for the product. If you purchase software without going through IT Operations Management, always ask the vendor for a copy of its VPAT.

Remember to be informed by the Buffalo State Information Technology Purchases and Acquisitions Policy (PDF,126 KB) before you purchase any technology.

Did you know that Microsoft Office has a built-in Accessibility Checker? The Accessibility Checker checks your documents for you and provides step-by-step instructions on how to correct any non-accessible content. The built-in Accessibility Checker is available in all MS Office applications.

How to Use the MS Accessibility Checker

Rules for the Accessibility Checker

Please look for scheduled workshops in the Workshop Registration System. You may also request training for yourself or for your group through the IT self-service portal.

Did you know that Microsoft Office has a built-in Accessibility Checker? The Accessibility Checker checks your documents for you and provides step-by-step instructions on how to correct any non-accessible content. The built-in Accessibility Checker is available in all MS Office applications.

How to Use the MS Accessibility Checker

Rules for the Accessibility Checker

Please look for scheduled workshops in the Workshop Registration System. You may also request training for yourself or for your group through the IT self-service portal.

Did you know that Microsoft Office has a built-in Accessibility Checker? The Accessibility Checker checks your documents for you and provides step-by-step instructions on how to correct any non-accessible content. The built-in Accessibility Checker is available in all MS Office applications.

Please see these Microsoft support documents about how to use the built-in Accessibility Checker and MS Accessibility Checker rules.

Please look for scheduled workshops in the Workshop Registration System. You may request training for yourself or for your group through the IT self-service portal.

Did you know that Microsoft Office has a built-in Accessibility Checker? The Accessibility Checker checks your documents for you and provides step-by-step instructions on how to correct any non-accessible content. The built-in Accessibility Checker is available in all MS Office applications.

Please see these Microsoft support documents about how to use the built-in Accessibility Checker and MS Accessibility Checker rules.

Please look for scheduled workshops in the Workshop Registration System. You may request training for yourself or for your group through the IT self-service portal.

When adding links to documents or slides, there are some specific things you can do to optimize accessibility. Because screen-reading software reads the links presented on a web page as words or letters, it is important to make links meaningful and relevant. Links that say “click here,” for example, do not allow users to discern what the link is about. And screen-reading software reads URLs letter by letter, including punctuation such as slashes, colons, and periods.

Instead, embed your links within your text, choosing words and phrases that best describe the object of the link. Here are some examples:

Correct example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Correct example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2019/01/14/ice-loss-antarctica-has-sextupled-since-s-new-research-finds/?utm_term=.734f543a9ff6)

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

This web page from the University of Minnesota gives some great examples of what screen readers actually read. Even if you don't read the entire article (though it is short), please scroll down to see the examples.

Please look for scheduled accessibility workshops in the Workshop Registration System. You may request training for yourself or for your group through the IT self-service portal.

When adding links to documents or slides, there are some specific things you can do to optimize accessibility. Because screen-reading software reads the links presented on a web page as words or letters, it is important to make links meaningful and relevant. Links that say “click here,” for example, do not allow users to discern what the link is about. And screen-reading software reads URLs letter by letter, including punctuation such as slashes, colons, and periods.

Instead, embed your links within your text, choosing words and phrases that best describe the object of the link. Here are some examples:

Correct example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Correct example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2019/01/14/ice-loss-antarctica-has-sextupled-since-s-new-research-finds/?utm_term=.734f543a9ff6)

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

This web page from the University of Minnesota gives some great examples of what screen readers actually read. Even if you don't read the entire article (though it is short), please scroll down to see the examples.

Please look for scheduled accessibility workshops in the Workshop Registration System. You may request training for yourself or for your group through the IT self-service portal.

When adding links to documents or slides, there are some specific things you can do to optimize accessibility. Because screen-reading software reads the links presented on a web page as words or letters, it is important to make links meaningful and relevant. Links that say “click here,” for example, do not allow users to discern what the link is about. And screen-reading software reads URLs letter by letter, including punctuation such as slashes, colons, and periods.

Instead, embed your links within your text, choosing words and phrases that best describe the object of the link. Here are some examples:

Correct example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Correct example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2019/01/14/ice-loss-antarctica-has-sextupled-since-s-new-research-finds/?utm_term=.734f543a9ff6)

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

Incorrect example: Please read this Washington Post article about ice loss in Antarctica.

This web page from the University of Minnesota gives some great examples of what screen readers actually read. Even if you don't read the entire article (though it is short), please scroll down to see the examples.

Please look for scheduled accessibility workshops in the Workshop Registration System. You may request training for yourself or for your group through the IT self-service portal.

Microsoft Word has features that close the accessibility gap without a lot of extra work. Using the built-in features in Word for headings, bullets, and lists will help you create accessible documents. The next time you format a document, instead of merely increasing the font size or adding boldface or colored text to visually indicate headings, use the built-in features in Word for headings, bullets, and lists to create accessible documents in a more structured way.

To use structured headings for your content:

• Type your heading.
• Highlight the text with your cursor.
• On the Home tab in the Styles group, click on Heading 1. The font style, color, and size of your highlighted text will become the preset style for Heading 1.

To change the preset style, right-click on Heading 1 and select Modify. Change the properties to a new style, for example, Garamond, font size 14, blue. This will become the new preset for Heading 1. Use Heading 1 for all your top-level headings.

Do the same for subheadings: choose the font size, formatting, color, and style you want; highlight the text; go to styles; and choose Heading 2. Modify if needed. This selection will become the preset for Heading 2. Use Heading 2 for all subheadings at that level.

If you need more subheadings, continue to create and use Heading 3 and so on. This structures the document for visually impaired students who use screen readers, and it keeps your personal style alive and well.

The same is true with bulleted and numbered lists. Using the icons in the menu to create bullets and lists, click on the adjacent drop-down arrow to modify the style of each. Sighted students will see your style, while visually impaired students will be able to follow with their screen readers.

Please look for scheduled workshops in the Workshop Registration System. You may request training for yourself or your group through the IT self-service portal.