For Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) websites, follow these guidelines for creating Section 508-compliant data tables in the Energy.gov content management system.

Designate Row and Column Headers

You must designate row and/or column headings for your table to be accessible. To do this:

  • Place your cursor in the heading cell.
  • Right click and select Cell > Cell Properties.
  • Under "Cell Type," change the drop-down menu to "Header."

Add Captions

Captions are not required, but they're helpful for both sighted and blind users. A caption is a short description that appears above the table. They provide greater context for the data in your table. To add a caption to your table:

  1. Click anywhere within the table.
  2. Right-click and select "Table Properties."
  3. Add the caption in the caption field.