Blackboard (Faculty) - Accessibility/Ally: Add and Modify Headings in a Microsoft Word Document

This document provides an overview of how to add headings to a Microsoft Word document.

After clicking a Ally indicator in your course, the feedback panel might indicate that your document does not have headings. Headings separate a document into sections and makes the content navigable by screen readers. Students with low or no vision rely on screen readers to interpret on-screen text, so it is important to add headings to your documents. 

this document does not have headings

You can use the default styles in Microsoft Word to add headings to your document. However, you might want a different font and color. This is how to modify the styles to the desired font, color, and line spacing.

Apply the Heading Style to One Heading

  1. Select/highlight the text.

  2. Apply Heading 1 or Heading 2 as applicable from the Styles group on the Ribbon by clicking the style. (Heading 1 is for major sections whereas Heading 2 would be a subcategory of Heading 1)

Use the Format Painter to Copy the Style

  1. Place the cursor in the middle of the formatted Heading 1 style.

  2. Double-click the Format Painter button.

  3. Apply the style to the other headings by clicking or selecting/highlighting the words.

  4. Click the Format Painter button again to turn it off.

  5. Repeat as necessary for Heading 2 styles.

Modify the Style

  1. Right-click over the Heading 1 or Heading 2 style. 

  2. Click Modify.

  3. Change font, color, or Paragraph settings as desired. (Note: Paragraph settings are located under the Format button in the lower left corner.)

  4. Click OK.

  5. All styles will be updated automatically.
Watch the video below for a step-by-step demonstration.



See Also


Keywords:
blackboard, black board, bb, headings, headers, styles, style, format, ally, blackboard ally, word, microsoft word, accessibility, accessible, accessible content, accessible blackboard, accessible course materials 
Doc ID:
82255
Owned by:
Center I. in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Created:
2018-05-15
Updated:
2025-02-09
Sites:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville