Accessible PowerPoints

Create WCAG compliant PowerPoints.

Beginners.

1

45 min

Class Norms and Expectations

React

Raise Hands

Chat

Breakout Rooms

Polls

Post-Session

Email

2

Be mindful of the top right

3

Facilitator Screen

Learner in PowerPoint

• Open Exercise PowerPoint. Emailed to you + Posted in the Chat

Learning Objectives

Review Digital Accessibility

Locate the accessibility pane in Microsoft PowerPoint

Verify the color contrast on your slides

Manipulate the focus order of items on your slides

Add alternative text to image

Tip for how to save time on your PowerPoints!

4

1

2

3

4

5

6

What is Digital Accessibility?

• When websites, tools, and technologies are designed and developed so that people with disabilities can use them.
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) – Developed by the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C)
• By April 2027, all government agencies must comply to WCAG standards on their website.

​

​

5

Which of the following texts are accessible to the most people?

6

Poll

A

Digital accessibility ensures that websites and other digital content is usable by everyone. 

B

Digital accessibility ensures that websites and other digital content is usable by everyone. 

C

Digital accessibility ensures that websites and other digital content is usable by everyone.

Which of the following texts are accessible to the most people? Answer

7

Correct Answer - B

A

Digital accessibility ensures that websites and other digital content is usable by everyone. 

B

Digital accessibility ensures that websites and other digital content is usable by everyone. 

C

Digital accessibility ensures that websites and other digital content is usable by everyone.

Takeaway: Color alone should not convey meaning.

Demonstration 1

Accessibility Pane + Color Contrast

8

Accessibility Practice

Exercise 1

Open slide 3 in the practice document.

1. Adjust the color contrast of the slide.

9

How would you naturally read this image?

10

Street Address

123 Square Street

City

Square City

State

SQ

Zip Code

24165

Enter

1

2

3

4

5

Is the image relevant to the content of the slide?

11

Street Address

123 Square Street

City

Square City

State

SQ

Zip Code

24165

Enter

Demonstration 2

Focus Order + Marking Elements as Decorative

12

State

123 Square Street

Square City

Enter

SQ

Street Address

City

24165

Zip Code

Exercise 2 – Breakout Room – 8 min

Open slide 7 in the practice document.

1. Adjust the focus/reading order of the elements on the slide
2. Determine whether the images should be marked as decorative or have alternative text.
3. With your group, verify each other's placements. Were you all in agreement with the reading pane order? Is there more than one way to order elements? What are the implications with that?

13

Saving time on PowerPoint?

Utilize business branded templates!

• Templates already have the reading order pane accounted for.
• Branded with colors with suitable contrast.

14

Key Takeaways

15

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of rules to ensure that web content are accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of disabilities.

PowerPoint has a built-in accessibility pane with functions to adjust color contrast, alternative text, and the reading order of slides.

Utilizing the organization’s branded PowerPoint template ensures that your slides already have color contrast and reading order accounted for in your content.

Digital accessibility benefits everyone!

2

3

4

1

Q & A

Do you have any questions regarding the content of this presentation?

• You can come off mute or type it in the chat!

16

Final Asks

1. In the chat, type your biggest takeaway of this lesson? What will you be doing with your PowerPoints moving forward?
2. You will be receiving a follow-up email with this PowerPoint before end-of-day.

​

17