Microsoft PowerPoint Accessibility
Use the information below to assist you in creating more accessible PowerPoint presentations.
PowerPoint presentations need to accessible in both the physical classroom and online.
For more in-depth tutorials, please see .
Font size
Use a minimum font size of 18 points. If the presentation is meant to be displayed
in a classroom, make sure the font size is large enough for students at the back of
the room to see.
Reading order
Use the . These layouts will preserve the reading order of text and other elements on your
slides.
If you decide to manually create text boxes instead of using the preset slide layouts,
they need to be placed onto the slide in reading order. This does not refer to positioning,
but rather the order in which the text box was placed onto the side. The reading order
can easily be checked or changed by using the .
Images and graphics
Include for all pictures, tables, graphs, charts and graphics. Alt text is a description
of images or other objects that have a visual component. Screen reading software reads
the description out loud. If the picture or graphic is only used for decoration, select
鈥淢ark as decorative鈥� in the alt text options. This tells screen reading software to
disregard it.
Color
Make sure that there is between the text color and background. Light-colored text on a light background or
dark-colored text on a dark background is difficult to see.
In addition, . For example, do not say 鈥淭ake note of the text in red.鈥� Instead, make the text red
and bold, and then say 鈥淭ake note of the text in red and bold.鈥� This ensures that the
text will be accessible to those who are colorblind.
Lists
Use PowerPoints鈥檚 built-in formatting options to create . Using the built-in formatting options ensures that screen reading software will
read the content in the correct order and identify structured text from body text.
Animations
Keep animations to a minimum. Avoid using blinking or flashing animations.
Hyperlinks
Avoid writing 鈥淐lick here for more information.鈥� Instead, write 鈥淪ee Majors and Programs for more information.鈥� Descriptive hyperlink text provides context that allows people
who use screen reading software to sort through links. (For documents that might be
printed, full URLs can be included within the text body or at the end of the document.)
Videos
Disable autoplay for embedded videos.
Accessibility checker
Before sharing your documents, run the . However, please note that the accessibility checker might not pick up all accessibility
issues. It should be used as a supplementary tool.
