All students, faculty, and staff must register for Microsoft Entra before Tuesday, November 11 to continue accessing university systems. Register today!
As part of Boise State’s commitment to meeting new federal Title II/ADA accessibility requirements, the Office of Information Technology is launching a new series of virtual workshops designed to help our campus community learn how to make Google Sheets, Slides, and Docs accessible to all users.
Each session focuses on practical techniques that empower faculty and staff to create inclusive digital materials aligned with current accessibility standards.
These workshops feature the use of Grackle, an accessibility add-on for our Boise State Google Workspace accounts. Grackle helps identify and fix barriers for screen reader users and others who rely on accessible formats.
Scheduled workshops
Grackle for Google Sheets: Making Your Data Accessible
Data in spreadsheets can be notoriously difficult for screen reader users to interpret. This session demonstrates how to use the Grackle Sheets add-on to correctly identify and tag table headers, name individual sheets descriptively, and avoid pitfalls such as merged cells or poor color contrast. Participants will also learn how to transform raw data into accessible HTML.
- Tuesday, October 28, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Thursday, October 30, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Grackle for Google Slides: Designing Inclusive Presentations
This class focuses on building inclusive presentations from the first slide to the last. Using Grackle Slides, participants will learn how to apply built-in slide layouts for proper structure, ensure every slide has a unique title, and verify sufficient color contrast. By the end, attendees will be equipped to create presentations that are both visually engaging and fully accessible.
- Tuesday, November 11, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Thursday, November 13, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Grackle for Google Docs: Structured Content for Everyone
In this workshop, participants will use Grackle Docs to create and remediate accessible Google Docs. The session covers how to use proper heading structure, write meaningful alternative text for images, and maintain logical reading order. A live demonstration will show how Grackle identifies and guides users through accessibility fixes to ensure compliance with digital accessibility standards.
- Thursday, December 4, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, December 9, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
How to register
For more information about document accessibility resources, visit Webguide.