When to Use Content Control Boxes (aka Fill-in-the-Blank)

When to Use Content Control Boxes (aka Fill-in-the-Blank)

Overview

Content control boxes can be a solution to make a document that contains fill-in-the-blank items accessible. However, use of content control boxes should be the exception, not the norm. Below you will find three scenarios that explain when and when not to use content control boxes in Microsoft Word. 

Scenario 1: Fill-in-the-Blank Questions (Use Content Control Boxes)

If you cannot get the SME to use a different format (i.e., not fill-in-the-blank), use content control boxes with the following parameters:
  1. Instructions for fill-in-the-blank questions should be provided. This will alert students with a screen reader that one is forthcoming.
  2. Content control boxes should be added where the “blanks” should appear in the text.
  3. The text for the content control boxes should be changed from “Click or tap here to enter text” to “blank.”  Note: Disregard the accessibility checker warnings about the “Hard-to-read text contrast” of the help text in the content control boxes.
Scenario 1 Example: 
Read the following sentence and fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
  1. The cow jumped over the [blank] to see where the [blank] landed the spaceship.
  2. The [blank] ran away when the [blank] stepped out of the spaceship.

Scenario 2: Electronic Forms or Worksheets (Do Not Use Content Control Boxes)

Provide complete instructions on what information the student should provide and then the student can just type after the colon or question mark. A content control box is not needed. 
Note: Only a single space is needed after each question. You do not need to create extra white space for answers since it is an electronic document. If it is a print document (e.g., lab performance checklist), it is okay to use extra line spaces to create room to write in an answer.
Scenario 2 Example:
Name:
Date:
Course Number:
  1. What did you like best about this course?
  2. What would you recommend as improvements to the course?

Scenario 3: Fillable Table (Do Not Use Content Control Boxes)

These should be avoided if possible and a different format should be chosen. If it must be a fillable table, it is important the use case fits the format. For example, is it used as a printed or an electronic document? What makes the most sense as the header row versus the columns?

Whatever you do, DO NOT use content control boxes in the table cells. This causes more issues for the screen reader than it solves. Instead, log the item in the ADA Asset Log. 

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