Accessible Spreadsheets

Web Accessibility Guidelines for Tables

Create tables with column and/or row headers, and ensure a proper reading order.

Why Column Headers in a Data Table are Important

• Using table headers is important to conveying tabular data accurately.

Why the Reading Order in a Table is Important

• Screen readers read tables from left to right, top to bottom, one cell at a time (& only once). If cells are split or merged, it could throw the reading order off which may make the table difficult to comprehend by users who are blind and using a screen reader to navigate.

Accessible Tables in PowerPoints & Google Slides

Check the reading order

• A screen reader reads a table from left to right, & top to bottom (never repeating a cell.)
• Merged, nested, and split cells may change the reading order of a table.
• Construct your table in a way that accommodates a good reading order

Indicate column headers for data tables.

Powerpoint (2011,2013,2016)

1. Place the cursor in the top row of your data table.
2. Click the Design tab under Table Tools (Mac - PPT 2011/2016: Tables tab)
3. . In the Table Style Options group (Mac - PPT 2011 - Table Options > Options/ Mac - PPT 2016 - Table Design tab), select the Header Row check box.
4. The cells in the top row of your table make up the column headers.

Google Slides

• You cannot create table column/row headers in Google Slides.

Microsoft Word & Google Docs

Indicate column headers for data tables.

Microsoft Word

1. Place the cursor in the top row of your data table.
2. Click on the Design tab under Table Tools (Table tab on Mac - Word 2011/Table Design tab - Word 2016)
3. In the Table Style Options group, select the Header Row check box.
4. Under Table Tools, click the Layout tab (Table Layout tab - Word 2011)
5. In the Data group (Word 2016 - Table Design > Layout tab), click the Repeat Header Row button. This will indicate the top row as the table's header.

Google Docs

• Google Docs doesn’t allow you to designate column or row headers, so keep your tables small so they are understandable without headers.

Accessible Canvas Tables

Indicate column (or row) headers in data tables.

1. To add scope, select the relevant cells of the table to be marked as row or column header.
2. Click the Table icon in the editor’s toolbar, select the Cell Properties link.
3. In Cell properties, set the Cell type to “Header cell” and in the Scope menu, select the Column option.
4. To set scope for the row, repeat the process, but in the Scope menu, select the Row option.
5. Add table caption.
6. Check the reading order

Add table caption.

1. Highlight the table, click on the Table icon in the Rich Content Editor.
2. From the drop-down menu select Table Properties.
3. Under the General tab, check the box for Caption, then click Ok. A new field for a caption should appear at the top of the table.

Check the reading order

1. A screen reader reads tables from left to right, and top to bottom, never repeating a cell.
2. Merged, nested, and split cells may alter the reading order of a table.
3. Make sure you construct your tables in a way that accommodates a good reading order.

Accessible Wordpress Tables

Use the TablePress plugin available in WordPress at sites.evergreen.edu and blogs.evergreen.edu.

1. Use the TablePress plugin to create and manage tables on your WordPress site.
2. No HTML knowledge is needed, table data can be easily edited. Tables can contain any type of data, even formulas that will be evaluated.
3. Tables can be inserted into posts, pages, or text widgets.
4. After installing the plugin, you can add, import, export, edit, copy, and delete tables via the “TablePress” section in your admin menu. Everything should be self-explaining there.
5. To show one of your tables in a post, on a page, or in a text widget just include the Shortcode [tableid=<the-ID> /] into your post/page/text widget, where <the-ID> is the ID of your table (can be found on the left side of the “All Tables” screen in TablePress).
6. You can also click on the “Table” button in the toolbar of the post/page editor to see a list of your tables. If you click “Insert” then, the correct Shortcode will be inserted for you automatically.
7. See also the TablePress Usage page for more information.
8. Tables can be imported from Excel (.xls and xlsv) CSV and HTML files and also be exported