Accessibility and Assistive Technology

Best Practices for Accessible PowerPoint Presentations

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Apply Accessible Design

  • Avoid using all capital letters.  
  • Choose a San Serif font that is larger than 18 points.  
  • Ensure embedded, or linked media is accessible.  
  • Ensure the slide order is consistent with how you intend the slide to be read by others.  
  • Review the following article to learn more about How to change the reading order in PowerPoint.  
  • Remember to add a unique title to each slide.  
  • Include ample white space between sentences.  
  • Use bold font to emphasize rather than using excessive italics and underlines.  
  • Use accessible templates. 
  • Run the Accessibility Checker.  
Microsoft Powerpoint "File" toolbar with the "Accessibility Checker" button boxed.

Describe all visual objects with an Alternative Text (Alt Text)

  • Explain “why” the image relates to the content. The Alt Text is read aloud by screen reading software. 
  • Go to the following article for detailed step-by-step instructions:
"Alt Text" section with the "Desciption" text box boxed in.

Avoid using color as the only means of representing information

Use sufficient contrast for text and background color.

color contrast check example

Use a simple table structure

  • Avoid blank cells, split cells, merged cells, or nested tables.  
  • Include a table header and descriptive summary of the specific information in the table.
Table Menu showing "Header Row" and "Banded Rows" checkboxes checked.
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