Digital Accessibility Handbook

WCAG 2.1 / 2.2 — Level AA

العربية

11. Accessible Presentations

Slide decks are central to training, reporting, and advocacy. A few habits make them work for people using screen readers, for low-vision viewers in the back row, and for anyone who receives the file afterward.

Build slides from real layouts

In PowerPoint or Google Slides, add slides from the built-in layouts (Title, Title + Content, and so on) instead of dropping in loose text boxes. Layouts give each slide a structure that assistive technology can follow.

  • Give every slide a unique title — it is how screen-reader users move between slides. If a title would clutter the design, hide it from view but keep it in place.
  • Check the reading order: in PowerPoint use the Reading Order pane (on the Review tab, or via Check Accessibility) and arrange items top-to-bottom in the order you intend.

Make every slide readable

  • Add alt text to images, charts, icons, and diagrams; mark purely decorative shapes as decorative.
  • Keep strong contrast (at least 4.5:1) — dark text on a light background or the reverse. Don’t place text over busy photos.
  • Use large, simple fonts (around 24pt and up), few words per slide, and space to breathe. Never rely on color alone to make a point.
  • Keep tables simple with a clear header row; avoid merged or split cells.
  • Use descriptive hyperlink text, not a pasted URL.

Spoken and embedded media

  • Say aloud what is on each slide — don’t assume everyone can see it (“as the chart shows, applications doubled”).
  • Add captions to embedded video and a transcript for embedded audio (Chapter 6).
  • For a complex chart, put a short explanation on the slide or in the speaker notes.

Check and share

  • Run the built-in checker — PowerPoint: Review → Check Accessibility. (Google Slides has no built-in checker, so check alt text and reading order by hand.)
  • When sharing, export an accessible (tagged) PDF (Chapter 10) or send the editable file; for events, share the deck in advance.

Presentations checklist

  • Slides use real layouts; every slide has a unique title.
  • Reading order is correct in the Selection Pane.
  • Images and charts have alt text; decorative shapes are marked.
  • Text is large, high-contrast, and not conveyed by color alone.
  • Embedded media is captioned; complex visuals are explained.
  • The Accessibility Checker passes; shared as a tagged PDF or in advance.