Grackle Docs

Grackle Docs is an automatic accessibility checker for Google Docs. It identifies barriers and provides guidance to improve document accessibility. For ease of use, Grackle Docs has been installed enterprise-wide in the Google Workspace for managed devices.

Important: Grackle is an integration for specific Google Apps, and as such, all usage should follow the Acceptable Use section of the Google Apps Terms of Use & Privacy.

Accessing Grackle Docs

To check your Google Doc, open the document and launch the Grackle Docs Extension.

  • In the Google Docs menu, select Extensions > Grackle Docs > Launch
  • Grackle Docs opens in the right sidebar and runs a check

Accessibility Check Results

Grackle Docs gives you information about each check that it runs. Review all Warnings and Failed checks, and fix where needed.

  • Green Checkmark = Passed
  • Green Checkmark with Exclamation = Passed with Warning
  • Red X = Failed 

Improve Your Document

Each section in the sidebar includes several checks. If you get a Warning or Failed check, follow instructions in the Grackle sidebar to take action and fix issues. 

Document

This section checks that:

  • Document has a descriptive title
  • Document language is set (English is usually set by default) 

Images

This section checks that visual content can be used and understood by all, including people using screen readers. It checks that:

  • Alt text is included for images and drawings
  • Image size is within file size limits

Headings

When used correctly, headings can communicate useful document structure information. This section checks that:

  • Headings are used
  • H1 is used only once
  • Headings are correctly nested in a hierarchy

Tables

If your slide has tables, this section makes sure they are correctly tagged and described. This section checks that:

  • Tables are tagged correctly with headers
  • Cells are not merged
  • Cells are not empty

Landmarks

This section provides guidance on lists, page headers and footers, and bookmarks. It checks that:

  • Page headers and footers are used
    • Headers and footers are not required, but they can help with usability when used for metadata like document title and page numbers
  • Lists are correctly marked as numbered or bulleted lists

Contents

This section checks for a variety of formatting issues. It checks that:

  • Unsupported contents are not used, including incompatible fonts or design elements
  • Good contrast is used
  • Font size is large enough to be readable
  • All CAPS is not used
  • Center alignment is not used for paragraphs
  • Very long paragraphs are flagged
  • Link text is meaningful

Export to PDF

Grackle has a built-in feature to export Google Docs into accessible PDF. 

Fix all issues in the Accessibility Check results, then use the Export to PDF button at the top of the Grackle extension sidebar.

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