Microsoft Word Accessibility: Document Title

Overview

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Ensuring a document has a set title is crucial for helping users with disabilities navigate documents. Setting the document title allows screen readers to immediately identify the document, providing better navigation for users with visual impairments. 

Considerations

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• Document Title vs Document Name: The document title is a descriptive metadata embedded within the documents properties, often used to display user-friendly name in software, search results, or screen readers. Titles are what is shown in the tab and is the first thing a screen reader will read to a user. A document name is a technical label used in filing and saving documents on a computer.
• Purpose of Document Title: The purpose is for identification and display in the browsers or application used to open PDFs. 

Best Practices for Titling a Document

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To title a document effectively, create a concise, unique, descriptive title that summarizes the content. 

• Make it Descriptive: Use clear, simple terms that accurately reflect the content to make it searchable and accessible. 
• Prioritize Unique Content:  Put the most crucial, unique information at the beginning of the title. 
  • Ex. "2025 Annual Report" instead of "Company Annual Report 2025"
• Keep it Concise: While descriptive, titles should be brief to avoid being cut off in search results or browser tabs.

Video Demonstration

Steps

Adding a Document Title with the Accessibility Checker

1. Go to the Review tab and select Check Accessibility. 
2. Select the Document Title Error
3. Add your Title, select OK

Adding a Document Title Manually

1. Open the Word document. 
2. Go to the File tab, select Info
3. Under the Properties, add title into the "Add a Title" text box.
   
4. Click out of the text box to save