Making Accessible Excel Spreadsheets: Accessible Design and Table Settings (Digital Accessibility Webinar)

A well-built Excel spreadsheet does more than organize data - it communicates clearly to every user, including those relying on assistive technology. In this session, Rachel will walk through the essential steps for making Microsoft Excel spreadsheets accessible, covering how to properly structure and format tables, create and use named ranges, and write meaningful chart descriptions that convey data without relying on visuals alone. Attendees will learn how formatting decisions in Excel directly impact the screen reader experience, and what to avoid when building spreadsheets intended for a broad audience. The session will also cover how to use Excel's built-in accessibility checker as a starting point and where manual review is still required. Building naturally alongside the JAWS and Excel session from July 15, this session approaches spreadsheet accessibility from the author's perspective. Join Rachel Reeves from Access Ingenuity to learn how to make your Excel spreadsheets accessible for all users.

• Structure and format Excel tables correctly to ensure reliable navigation and interpretation by screen readers.
• Create and apply named ranges in Excel to improve navigability and clarity for assistive technology users.
• Write meaningful chart descriptions and data summaries that communicate the full intent of a visualization.
• Identify formatting decisions and common authoring mistakes that negatively impact the Excel screen reader experience.
• Use Excel's built-in accessibility checker and identify where additional manual review is needed beyond automated results.