Here's something that might surprise you: Some of the most useful features built into your Microsoft 365 apps have been hiding in plain sight — originally designed with accessibility in mind, but helpful for everybody. By understanding (and using) the accessibility tools available to you, you’ll not only be better equipped to help others, but also may find a few that can change your digital experience.
📖 Immersive Reader
Immersive Reader is a severely underrated tool. It's available in Word, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams, and it does a lot more than just read text aloud.
With Immersive Reader, you can adjust font size, text spacing, and background color; break words into syllables; and highlight different parts of speech — all within the same document you're already working in. Originally developed to support students with dyslexia and other reading differences, these features are useful for anyone who wants to make reading more approachable.
To access it in Word or Outlook, go to View > Immersive Reader. In Teams, look for the three-dot menu on any message and select Immersive Reader from there.
🎤 Dictation
Dictation translates your speech into text. No typing required. Available in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote, this tool is a game changer for anyone who thinks faster than they type, gets stuck staring at a blank page, or just needs a break from the keyboard.
To get started, open any of those apps and look for the Dictation button in the Home tab — it looks like a microphone. Click it, start speaking, and edit from there. Dictation works across a range of languages, too!
✅ Accessibility Checker
The Accessibility Checker is built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and its job is to flag issues in your documents that might make them harder to read or navigate. Think of it as spellcheck, but for inclusive design.
It catches things like missing alt text on images, low-contrast text that's hard to read, and content that might not display properly for someone using a screen reader. Running it before you share a document, send a presentation, or distribute a spreadsheet is a quick habit that makes your work more polished and easier to use for everyone who receives it.
To run it, go to Review > Check Accessibility in any of those apps. It'll flag issues and walk you through how to fix them .
🌙 Dark Mode and Text Size
Microsoft 365 apps support both light and dark display modes, and you can adjust text size across the suite to whatever feels comfortable for you.
Dark mode reduces screen glare and can be easier on the eyes during long working sessions, especially in low-light environments. It's worth trying if you find yourself squinting at your screen or ending the day with a headache.
To switch in any Microsoft 365 app, go to File > Account > Office Theme and choose Dark Gray or Black. You can also adjust display settings system-wide through your Windows or macOS accessibility settings.
🔠 Focus Mode in Word
This is a favorite of the PantherBytes blog, and for good reason. If you've ever sat down to write something important and found yourself distracted by every toolbar, menu, and notification on your screen, Focus Mode in Word was made for you. It hides everything except your document, giving you a clean, distraction-free writing environment.
To turn it on, go to View > Focus in Word. Press Escape to return to the regular view whenever you're ready.
What Accessible Change Will You Make?
Accessibility features are thoughtful design choices that make technology better for everyone who uses it. Knowing about them can make your work more inclusive and potentially solve problems you didn’t know you had. Try one the next time you open up a Microsoft 365 tool and see the difference accessible design can make.
— Pitt Digital
