Why it matters:
Organize your content for accessibility! For many students, especially those who use screen readers, headings are not just visual styling, they are the roadmap through your content. A screen reader can pull up a list of all headings in a document, allowing students to jump directly to the section they need. Without proper headings, students may be forced to listen to an entire document line by line, which is time‑consuming and frustrating.
Structured content also benefits all learners. Clear headings make it easier for busy students to skim and review material, while properly formatted lists and tables improve readability. Using built‑in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) instead of manually bolding or enlarging text ensures that assistive technologies recognize the structure as intended. Similarly, labeling table headers helps students understand how information is organized, rather than hearing a confusing string of data. By taking a few extra seconds to apply heading styles and structured elements as you design your documents, you can create materials that are easier to navigate, more professional in appearance, and accessible to every student.
For additional guidance on creating structured documents, please visit our Digital Accessibility Resource Guide.