Links

If you’re changing the colors of text in your document, we recommend using a color contrast checker tool. For more on this, review Color Contrast.

Whenever possible, try to make links distinguishable from the rest of the text with more than just color. For example, underline the links so students know that they are active.

Tip: Links are a different color than the body text and underlined by default in most tools. As a result, you likely won’t have to make any changes if using the default styling.

In general, learners should be able to navigate to each link using the TAB, arrow keys, and/or other keyboard shortcuts, and activate the links using the ENTER, RETURN, or SPACE keys. For a document, this is called being “keyboard navigable,” and it’s especially important for students who, for a variety of reasons, may be unable to use a mouse or trackpad.

If the only way to navigate to or activate the link is with the mouse, the resource may not be keyboard navigable.

Here are two ways to enter links in a Google doc:

Version 1

The first option is an automated way that makes your URL the title of the linked website. It will read the URL you’ve pasted into the Doc and ask if you wish to switch it to the title of the website.

Note: Since this is a new feature, it may not pull the title immediately or correctly. Because of this, try to always double-check that the link is active.

Here are the steps to make the URL the title of the linked website:

1. Copy the URL of the link you want to add from the source.
2. Paste the URL into the Google Doc where you want the title to appear.
3. Select “Yes” next to “Replace URL with its title” on the dialogue box that appears beneath the URL.

Version 2

The second option is a multi-step process that works as a backup in case the title is not auto-generated, or when you want to link text that’s not the title of the document.

Here’s what to do:

1. Copy the URL of the link you want to add from the source.
2. Type text that describes the resource into the Google Doc.
3. Highlight that text.
4. Click the Insert Link icon.
5. Paste the URL into the designated field.
6. Click Apply.

Here’s how to enter links in a Microsoft Word document:

1. Copy the URL of the link you want to add from the source.
2. Type text that describes the resource into the Word document.
3. Highlight that text.
4. Click the Link icon.
5. Paste the URL into the Address field.
6. Click OK.

Some programs can help you to search for and track accessibility errors. The following Microsoft products have an Accessibility Checker that generates a list of accessibility errors:

• Word
• Excel
• Outlook
• OneNote
• PowerPoint

Please note: While we encourage you to make use of accessibility checkers, this technology is not perfect and cannot flag all errors. Because of this, if possible, we recommend doing a manual review as well.

These strategies can benefit many learners. However, these strategies are often essential for learners who

• Rely on screen readers and screen magnifiers to navigate the web.
• Have a form of colorblindness and need to be able to distinguish links and text.
• Require a straightforward layout. See Cognitive, Learning, and Neurological Disabilities.
• Cannot or have difficulty using a mouse. See Motor Disabilities.

Finally, these strategies are also helpful for learners who are short on time and need to be able to find links quickly; those using mobile devices; and those using certain browser plugins and add-ons.

Some individuals either cannot use a mouse or it takes them a long time to do so. There are many possible reasons why this may be. For example, they may have a lack of fine motor control due to tremors or they may have little or no use of their hands. However, many are still able to interact with their devices and the web using the keyboard, perhaps in conjunction with some assistive technologies, if materials are designed in an accessible way.