Training

This page features training information and resources regarding accessible information and communications technology (ICT) content for all HHS staff.

Sign up for in-house accessibility training and learn to create accessible documents. See the Live Training folder for details.

Online Training

Introduction to Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) Accessibility Course

Note: This training course is only available to HHS staff.

In this course, you will learn the following:

  • What accessibility is and why it's important.
  • How people with disabilities access electronic information and benefit from accessibility.
  • What accessibility laws have been passed and what they require.
  • How you can make your own workplace accessible.

To take the Introduction to Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) AccessibilityExternal site course, log into System Training Solutions (STS) with your employee ID number and agency's name (HHSC or DSHS). Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Basic Web Accessibility Tutorial

This two-part tutorial focuses on the basics of web accessibility, but the concepts discussed here apply to other ICT formats.

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office offers automated accessibility checks. However, automated testing catches only 20-30% of accessibility errors. Hence we always require manual checks. To ensure accurate manual checks, a strong understanding of key accessibility concepts is needed. We recommended using the accessibility checker along with manual checks after you have an intermediate understanding of accessibility.

Below are the guidelines to conduct manual checks.

Word

The following tutorials provide detailed instructions on how to install and use HHS templates in Microsoft Word, to create accessible documents that conform with HHS branding guidelines.

Excel

Avoid Converting Excel to PDF. Converting an Excel file to PDF does not work. Copy the tables into a Word document using an HHS template. Then the Word file can be converted to PDF.

Is Excel the Right Format For My Document?

Excel is a powerful tool for storing, analyzing and manipulating data tables. But, Word can be a better choice than Excel - if the main purpose of your document is to present static information. That is, information that does not change based on user input. Using Word will make it much easier to create an accessible document in most cases. Especially if you plan to convert it to PDF.

When Should I Use Excel?

There are a few situations where Excel is the best format for a document:

  • Most information in the document is data in a table layout.
  • Presenting dynamic information that changes when people interact with it. For example:
    • Filtering or sorting a list.
    • Making calculations.

If any of these situations apply, you should use excel.

If neither of these situations apply or there are plans to convert the document to PDF you should create the document in Word.

How to Make an Accessible Excel Document

Follow these guidelines to implement or check for accessibility in an Excel file:

Quick Guide

Use this guide if you already have experience making accessible Excel documents:

PowerPoint

The following tutorials provide detailed instructions on how to install and use HHS templates in Microsoft Word, to create accessible documents that conform with HHS branding guidelines.

Adobe Acrobat Pro

PDF

The following tutorials provide detailed instructions on how to create accessible PDF documents that conform with HHS branding guidelines.

Making PDF Tables Accessible

If you have a business need to create a complex table, this tutorial series provides detailed instructions on how to create tables in Word documents, convert them to PDF, and make them accessible with Adobe Acrobat Pro.

External Training Opportunities

2023 John Slatin AccessU Conference

Each year, KnowbilityExternal site hosts several days of training by world-class accessibility experts at the John Slatin AccessU Conference in Austin, Texas.

The HHS Accessibility Team presented the following classes at the conference. Below are the instructional materials used in those classes.

Freedom Scientific

Freedom Scientific provides web-based training on the JAWS screen readerExternal site, free webinarsExternal site, and links to more training resources on the web. Check out their websiteExternal site for more information.