1. Establish Title, Nomenclature, and Formatting

Formatting
Action Description Proactive Fix
Document Title Create a meaningful title to provide context. Use a descriptive, unique name (e.g., 2024_Q3_Sales_Report).
Sheet Names Provide unique sheet names to allow screen reader users to understand and navigate tabs. Double-click tabs and rename them (e.g., "Monthly Sales," not "Sheet1").
Data Chunking Reduce cognitive load and simplify navigation by breaking up text. Only put one distinct data set per sheet. Create a new sheet for a different topic.
Table Formatting Quickly format the visual style of your entire table. Select table and Convert to Table and access Table Formatting options

2. Ensure Data Integrity and Structure

Structure
Action Description Proactive Fix
Data Headers Associate data values with column/row titles for screen reader users. CRITICAL: Build the table simply, with the first row as headers. Select Extensions > Grackle Sheets > Launch, to programmatically tag these headers after creation.
No Merged Cells Avoid merged cells which break the logical reading grid and confuse screen reader users. Never merge cells. Unmerge any existing merged cells and repeat labels if necessary.
No Isolated Cells Avoid isolated cells that lack semantic association with other data elements. Do not place important information in single, disconnected cells far from the primary data.
Tabular Data Only Use tables for data only, not for layout purposes. For text alignment or sidebars, use Format > Columns instead of tables.
Table Length Keep table length reasonable or break into smaller chunks. Break data into smaller, more focused tables on separate sheets.

3. Enhance Visual Content and Media

Media
Action Description Proactive Fix
Informative Images Make visual content (charts, graphs) understandable to non-sighted users. Right-click the image/chart and provide descriptive Alternative Text summarizing the meaning or conclusion.
Decorative Images Tag images as decorative to prevent announcement of irrelevant content to screen reader users. Select Extensions > Grackle Sheets > Launch, and mark purely aesthetic elements (like borders or logos) as Artifacts.
Charts Ensure charts are readable without relying on color alone. Add descriptive titles, use high-contrast colors, and include direct Data Labels instead of relying solely on a legend.