Microsoft PowerPoint

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• ___ File format: Save as a .pptx file.
• ___ Document language: Set the primary language: File > Options > Language.
• ___ Descriptive title: Provide a descriptive title - different from the file name.
• ___ Slide titles: Give every slide a unique title. You can position a title off the slide to save space on the slide.
• ___ Metadata: Include author, subject and keywords: File > Info.
• ___ Protections restrictions: Turn these off. Allow users who need to manipulate fonts and colors to change them so they can better see or read the content with assistive technology.
• ___ When exporting a PowerPoint: Create accessible PDFs or other file formats of your presentation.

• ___ Templates and themes: Build a PowerPoint presentation from an accessible template. PowerPoint has built-in, predesigned slide layouts that contain placeholders for text, videos, pictures, with theme colors, fonts and effects. Use these to ensure proper heading structure and reading order for screen reader users. Text needs to appear on a solid background, with sufficient contrast between the text and background color.
• ___ Reading order: To make sure that slides are accessible, use the built-in design layouts that are designed so that the reading order is the same for people who use screen readers and for people who see.
• ___ Headings: Use built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) within each slide to ensure that headings are descriptive and concise. Organize headings in a logical order; avoid skipping levels (e.g., from 1 to 3).
• ___ Links: People who use screen readers sometimes scan a list of links. Use meaningful descriptive link text that clearly indicates the link destination, and are visually distinct from surrounding text (e.g., underlined and in a different color). Avoid generic phrases like “click here” or “learn more.” Add ScreenTips to links.
• ___ Tables: Avoid tables and instead use paragraphs with headings. If you must use data tables, avoid fixed-width tables. Use table headers. Ensure that tables don't contain split cells, merged cells, or nested tables.
  • ___ If using links in a table, make sure the link text doesn’t break mid-sentence.
• ___ Lists: Make content easier to read by providing visual structure and highlighting key points using lists.
• ___ Slides on a timer: Avoid using. Timers can restrict individuals from reading all information before the slide advances.

• ___ Font and font size: Use a clear, simple font like Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman. Use a body text font size of 18 points or larger. Avoid using ALL CAPS, italics, or underlining for large blocks of text. Provide for sufficient white space. An accessible font supports the reading speed of anyone reading a slide, including people with low vision or reading disability or people who are blind.
• ___ Line spacing: Use adequate line spacing (e.g., 1.15 or 1.5).
• ___ Paragraph spacing: Use to separate paragraphs; avoid using multiple spaces or tabs for indentation.
• ___ Color: Do not rely on color alone to convey important information.
• ___ Color contrast: Use High Color Contrast between the foreground and background colors.
  • ___ Use a color contrast analyzer tool to ensure WCAG 2.1 Level AA sufficient contrast:
    • ___ For text: 4.5:1 for normal text, 3:1 for large text.
    • ___ For links: 4.5:1 contrast between the link text color and the background; 3:1 contrast between the link text color and the surrounding non-link text color.

• ___ Images: Provide clear and concise descriptive alternative text ("alt text") for all meaningful images (125 characters or less). Provide long descriptions for complex images. None for decorative images. Nest images in line with the text.
• ___ Charts and graphs: Position these inline with the text. Must have alt text or detailed long description.
• ___ Video with audio files: Currently, only PowerPoint for Windows supports insertion and playback of closed captions or subtitles that are not embedded in the video and are separate files on a server.
• ___ Animations and slide transitions: Keep these short and to a minimum. Avoid using any flashing objects. 

• ___ Accessibility Checker: This tool runs automatically in the background when you’re creating a presentation. 
  If it detects accessibility issues, a reminder appears in the status bar. To open: Review > Check Accessibility.
• ___ Manual testing: After using this checklist to update the .pptx file, I have done manual testing for keyboard navigation, and with a screen reader (if I have been trained to use NVDA for PC, or VoiceOver for Mac).
• ___ YuJa Panorama: Once the file has been uploaded to your D2L course, faculty can also work within Panorama to remediate the file for accessibility or create an alternative version in another format.