Articles and Research
Microsoft – Accessibility for Word and PPT
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Chad Chelius and Dax Castro welcome Microsoft’s Shireen Salma and Ylva Kravis to unpack new accessibility features in Word and PowerPoint, including the cross‑platform Reading Order pane, smarter AI‑generated alt text with approval workflows, and improved handling of floating images via anchors in Word. The discussion dives into table accessibility (layout tables, header detection, scope, merged cells), export-to-PDF best practices, and practical tips like grouping behavior, setting slide titles, and reviewing alt text in bulk with Accessibility Assistant.
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Guest Profile
Shireen Salma is a Product Manager driving digital accessibility and innovation at Microsoft, where she’s leading the launch of Accessibility Assistant for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. With a background in large-scale digital transformation at Bharti Airtel, she’s passionate about creating inclusive tools that empower every user to design with accessibility in mind.
Ylva Kravis is a Senior Engineering Manager at Microsoft with over 13 years of experience leading innovation across eCommerce, SaaS, and media. Known for modernizing major platforms and accelerating development lifecycles, she brings a sharp focus on scalable, human-centered technology that drives real-world impact.
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