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From: Birkir R. Gunnarsson
Date: Thu, Aug 23 2012 8:47AM
Subject: Creating accessible radio button list (or list of check boxes) in Word
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Hey guys

I am trying to convince a few people I work for to stop using MS Word
documents for their electronic forms, but it is going slowly.
In the meantime I am trying to make these Word files as accessible to
screen reader users as possible.
One question/problem I have is with lists of choices where the user
either choses one (radio button basically), or has the option to check
multiple values.
It seems the simple and low tech solution is to say
"type X in the ( ), indicate whether it is allowed to choose more than
one, and then display the list
Your favorite fruit or vegetable: (you can only choose one)
( ) apples
( ) oranges
( ) cabbage

Is there a better built-in way to accessibly create controls in Word
for this, and would those be exported with any success to, say PDF?
Cheers
-B

From: Paul J. Adam
Date: Thu, Aug 23 2012 9:01AM
Subject: Re: Creating accessible radio button list (or list of check boxes) in Word
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I remember at DARS we used locked word forms with "X" boxes for checkboxes. Also had to use 1px wide input boxes to convey information that was in a paragraph in the locked regions. I developed a word forms checklist while there, also a PDF forms checklist. <http://architecture.hhsc.state.tx.us/myweb/Accessibility/doc_creator.asp>;

Paul J. Adam
Accessibility Evangelist
Deque Systems
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www.PaulJAdam.com
@pauljadam on Twitter

On Aug 23, 2012, at 9:47 AM, "Birkir R. Gunnarsson" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:

> Hey guys
>
> I am trying to convince a few people I work for to stop using MS Word
> documents for their electronic forms, but it is going slowly.
> In the meantime I am trying to make these Word files as accessible to
> screen reader users as possible.
> One question/problem I have is with lists of choices where the user
> either choses one (radio button basically), or has the option to check
> multiple values.
> It seems the simple and low tech solution is to say
> "type X in the ( ), indicate whether it is allowed to choose more than
> one, and then display the list
> Your favorite fruit or vegetable: (you can only choose one)
> ( ) apples
> ( ) oranges
> ( ) cabbage
>
> Is there a better built-in way to accessibly create controls in Word
> for this, and would those be exported with any success to, say PDF?
> Cheers
> -B
> > >

From: Duff Johnson
Date: Thu, Aug 23 2012 9:03AM
Subject: Re: Creating accessible radio button list (or list of check boxes) in Word
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Birkir,

> Is there a better built-in way to accessibly create controls in Word
> for this, and would those be exported with any success to, say PDF?


Our CommonLook Office does two things relevant to your inquiry.

1) CommonLook Office makes several assumptions about form fields in Word documents:

- Form fields will be converted to PDF in the tab order in which they appear in the Word document.
- Tab order will be set to follow the logical structure of the document.
- Text Help will be converted to a tooltip.
- Radio buttons will be converted to mutually exclusive checkboxes that have the appearance of radio buttons.

2) Once validation of the Word (or PowerPoint) form is complete, CommonLook Office will produce a tagged and accessible PDF file.

NOTE: CommonLook Office is a tool for most MS Office users; as such it includes tools that require mousing, etc.

Best regards,

Duff Johnson

President, NetCentric US
ISO 32000 Intl. Project Co-Leader, US Chair
ISO 14289 US Chair
PDF Association Vice-Chair

Office: +1 617 401 8140
Mobile: +1 617 283 4226
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www.net-centric.com

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