How to Create an Accessible Document Using Google Docs
In order to create an accessible Google Doc, you will need to follow the principles for creating accessible documents regardless of platform. Many of these principles are about how you structure and write your content, but some are about how you format that text.
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all university websites, mobile applications, documents made available online and digital course materials be fully compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards by April 24, 2026.
About Accessibility in Google Docs
These are a few of the most important tools built into Docs for creating accessible documents.
Formatting Headings Using Heading Styles
For people using assistive technology, headings must be indicated through tags, not just by how text looks. In Docs, heading tags are applied by using the heading styles — they are not applied when you change the way text is formatted by simply changing the font size and weight.
You can change text from “normal text” (paragraph tags) to headings in the Styles drop-down to the left of the font selector. You can define how these styles look and apply them as your default styles across documents.
Learn more about adding and editing heading styles in Google DocsSetting Alternative Text for Images
Use the “Alt text” functionality in Google Docs to add alt text to an image, drawing or graphic.
To set the alt text, select an object and select Image Options in the toolbar to open the Image Options panel. Edit alt text beneath “Alt Text.”