Accessibility Guide: Heading Formatting in Documents and Canvas

✅ Why Use Header Formatting? 

• Improves accessibility for screen reader users by creating logical content structure. 

• Allows easier navigation through large documents or web pages. 

• Enhances visual consistency and professionalism. 

• Boosts SEO in web-based content (like Canvas pages). 

📝 Applying Header Formatting in Microsoft Word 

Steps: 

  1. Open your document in Microsoft Word. 

  1. Highlight the text you want to make a heading. 

  1. Go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon. 

  1. Choose the appropriate style (e.g., Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3) from the 'Styles' group. 

  1. Repeat for each section heading in your document. 

📚 Applying Header Formatting in Canvas 

Steps: 

  1. Go to the Rich Content Editor in any Canvas page, assignment, or discussion. 

  1. Highlight the text you want to format. 

  1. Click the 'Paragraph' dropdown menu in the editor toolbar. 

  1. Choose a heading level (Heading 2 is recommended for main section titles). 

  1. Save the page to apply your changes. 

💡 Tips for Effective Use 

• Use Heading 1 for the main title, Heading 2 for sections, and Heading 3 for subsections. 

• Don’t skip heading levels—keep the hierarchy logical. 

• Avoid using bold or enlarged text as a substitute for proper headings. 

• Screen readers rely on proper header tags to navigate content. 

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