Accessibility Checklist: Microsoft PowerPoint

Layout

• Use the built in PowerPoint layouts to enable correct reading order for assistive technology

• Avoid using slide transitions (e.g. morph, wipe)

Text 

• Avoid decorative fonts that are hard to read

• Font size should be at least 18 point

• Bold the text to call attention to important information

• Avoid underlining text unless the text is a clickable hyperlink  

• Avoid italics unless necessary (e.g. book titles, scientific names)

• Avoid using all caps

Color

• Choose contrasting text and background colors (black/white, Davidson-Davie blue/white, purple/white)

• Avoid patterned backgrounds when used with text

• Use colors consistently throughout the presentation

• Color alone should not indicate meaning

List of Items 

• Use the Bulleted List or Numbered List feature in the editing toolbar

Hyperlinks

• Use descriptive links that tell the user where the link will take them

Embedded Media

• Provide alt text for meaningful images or describe the image directly on the slide

  • Review auto-generated alt text for accuracy

• Provide a linked transcript for audio-only files

• Choose captioned videos or edit captions on videos that you create

Tables

• Use tables to display data

• Avoid using tables for design or layout - Format the slide into columns instead

• Use the “Insert Table” feature rather than inserting an image of a table

• Choose contrasting text and cell colors (e.g. white text, DDCC blue cell)

• Avoid blank, merged, or split cells

• Mark the table column/row row headers by going to the Table Design tab and check the box

Accessibility Check

• Run the Accessibility Checker and correct any issues (The Check Accessibility button is located in different places depending on the version of PPT)

• Review the Reading Order to be sure that screen readers read the slide contents in the order that you intend

Accessibility Checklist: Microsoft PowerPoint (Google Docs Version)