Accessible Slides and Presentations
In this video tutorial, you will learn how to ensure the correct reading order so screen readers navigate through slides in the order that you intend. Reading order is one component of making presentations accessible.
Overview
Ensuring that digital slides are accessible is essential for creating an inclusive learning environment where all students, including those with disabilities, can fully engage with course content. Thoughtful slide design not only removes barriers to learning but also reflects a commitment to equity, academic success, and respect for diverse learning needs.
How to Create Accessible Slides and Presentations
Review the following practices that support digital accessibility for your slides:
- Use High-Contrast Colors: Ensure strong contrast between text and background to support students with low vision or color blindness.
- Readable Fonts: Choose sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri) and keep font sizes large enough (minimum 18pt).
- Slide Titles: Provide a unique title on each slide to aid screen reader navigation.
- Alt Text for Images: Add clear, concise alternative text for all images, charts, and diagrams.
- Descriptive Links: Use meaningful link text (e.g., “Read more about accessible design” instead of “Click here”).
- Reading Order: Check that the slide content follows a logical reading order, especially when using complex layouts.
- Provide Digital Copies: Share accessible versions (e.g., tagged PDFs or accessible PowerPoint files) ahead of time so students can review content with their preferred tools.
Presentation Software
PowerPoint: Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilities
Google Slides: Make your document, presentation, sheets & videos more accessible
Keynote: Create accessible documents, spreadsheets, or presentations with Pages, Numbers, or Keynote
Summary & Key Takeaways
- Avoid using a lot of animations, flashing text, or transitions as these are difficult for a screen reader to understand.
- Utilize the slide notes to communicate the description of the slide. Be sure these are included when posting the slides for student view.
- Check accessibility of slides (using the accessibility checkers) before posting. It may be more challenging to make slides accessible when converting to PDF.
- Share slides in advance of lecture so that students can follow along and annotate as part of their note-taking process.
- Record the lecture portion of class that accompanies the slides (if not already using BruinCast). You can also do this prior to or following the lecture if preferred. This not only provides another way for students to engage with the material, it also provides you with additional means for delivering the lecture in the event of disruptions to in-person learning in the future. Make an effort to describe what is shown on the slide (“here we are looking at a map of the United States that shows the topography of our largest mountain ranges”).