Slides and Reading Order

  • Ensure every slide has a unique title. 
  • Set reading order for every slide (If using PowerPoint and the built-in designs, this will be done for you). 
  • Check that important information is not too low on the slide (ensured readability from the back of a classroom). 
  • Do not include excessive amounts of text on a single slide.

Font

  • Use an easy-to-read font style (sans serif fonts, such as Arial or Calibri). 
  • Use an appropriate font size (18pt or larger, the bigger the better). 
  • Avoid using all capital letters or excessive italics or underlines. 
  • Ensure text is left-aligned when possible. 
  • Include sufficient white space between lines (no overcrowding of lines and words).

Images, Tables and Videos

  • Embed alternative text for visuals (pictures, art, shapes, charts, videos, etc.).
  • Do not use Images as the sole method of conveying information. 
  • Confirm that videos have closed captions, subtitles, and a video description of key visual items. 
  • Use tables that are simple in structure with specific column header information. 
  • Avoid using motions or animations unnecessarily. 
  • Avoid unnecessary animated slide transitions. 
  • Use GIFs minimally and limit the number of times they loop.

Colour and Contrast

  • Use strong contrast between text and background colours (white background with dark font, or dark background with white font). 
  • Avoid using colour as a method of conveying importance (for example, do not mark something in red to convey that it is important, but instead mark it with the word “important”). 
  • Check that information still makes sense in grayscale.
  • Insert meaningful hyperlink text (all links explain information about the destination). 
  • Underline hyperlinks (ie. colour is not the only method of showing that the text is linked).

Additional Suggestions

  • Consider using Microsoft PowerPoint for your slides as you can then use the built-in Accessibility Checker as a final edit of your slidedeck. 
  • Share slidedeck in presentation format and in web format (HTML view).

Credits

  • Photo by Mikolette via Getty Images. Used with permission.

References

Google. (2021). Make Your Document or Presentation More Accessible. Retrieved from Google Support: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6199477?hl=en

Lawton Henry, S. (2021). How to Make Your Presentations Accessible to All. Retrieved from W3C Web Accessibility Initiative: https://www.w3.org/WAI/teach-advocate/accessible-presentations/#preparing-slides-and-projected-material-speakers

Microsoft. (2021). Make Your PowerPoint Presentations Accessible to People with Disabilities. Retrieved from Microsoft Support: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/make-your-powerpoint-presentations-accessible-to-people-with-disabilities-6f7772b2-2f33-4bd2-8ca7-dae3b2b3ef25

Ravenhall, A. (2018). Inclusive Design for Accessible Presentations. Retrieved from Smashing Magazine: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2018/11/inclusive-design-accessible-presentations/

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