The Microsoft Teams app is one of the campus-supported chat and web conferencing tools included in the Microsoft Office suite. 

Get help

• UW–Madison Accessibility Assistance:
  
  • If you are using Microsoft Teams for general web conferencing purposes, contact the DoIT Help Desk for general assistance.
• UW System Accessibility Assistance:
  • Users should contact their campus Help Desk for general assistance or to report an accessibility or usability barrier.

Additional Resources

• To turn on closed captions in Microsoft Teams, refer to Use Live Captions in Teams Meetings.
• For more accessibility features, visit Accessibility tools for Microsoft Teams.
• For Microsoft Teams guides, go to Microsoft 365 - Getting Started with Teams.

Accessibility and usability barriers 

The following barriers were identified through testing a select number of pages and tasks in Microsoft Teams. Please note this is not an exhaustive list of the barriers a user may encounter in Teams. 

Screen reader barriers

There are a couple instances where the reading order is illogical. Some elements do not behave as expected upon selecting them while using a screen reader, particularly in the screen sharing control bar.

Sometimes, elements are announced but lack instructions to help the user understand how to navigate the elements. In the chat Files interface, there is one instance where a button can only be accessed by using the right or left arrow keys to navigate sideways (letter by letter), instead of the button as a whole receiving focus.

Additionally, some images and functions are missing alternative text. Missing form labels on some inputs may make it difficult for people who are navigating with a screen reader to use this app.

Keyboard navigation barriers

There are a couple instances where the focus order is illogical. Some elements do not behave as expected upon selecting them with a keyboard, particularly in the screen sharing control bar.

Magnification barriers

At 200% magnification or higher, some elements get cut off in the user account menu, including the Schedule Out of Office link in the Set Status Message submenu. 

At 325% magnification or higher, more elements get cut off, including Add Another Account in the user account menu, as well as two buttons in the Chat interface: More Chat Options and View and Add Participants.

Color contrast barriers

In the left sidebar, the purple text indicating the currently selected element has low contrast against the background. 

Avoid using virtual backgrounds 

Avoid using virtual backgrounds during a web conferencing event, as the effects are visually less accessible to users. Virtual backgrounds can also cause increased CPU workload for the user running the background, which can disrupt their participation in the meeting.