PowerPoint—The steps outlined in the attached paper, Seven Steps to Creating an Accessible PowerPoint Slideshow, will show how to make PowerPoint presentations more accessible if they are to be distributed electronically. It is often recommended, however, that a more accessible way of distributing PowerPoint slideshows is by exporting them into either Portable Document Format (PDF) or HyperText Markup Language (HTML). Both of these other formats can be made to be more accessible for persons using assistive technologies, and they are smaller file sizes for downloading. Instructions on how to export to these file formats is provided.
PowerPoint can be an effective tool to use during live demonstrations, presentations or webinars, but is not the best file format to use when taking into consideration both accessibility and usability issues. When preparing a presentation, first consider developing a lengthier and more complete Word file to most effectively convey the information. Then from that document develop a PowerPoint slideshow highlighting ‘bullet’ points and an outline of the ideas in the live presentation.
Seven Steps to Creating an Accessible PowerPoint Slideshow (download, PDF) from the Department of Rehabilitation of California
Accessibility Resources
Accessibility Checker for Mac PowerPoint
Accessibility Checker for Windows
Combining Colors in PowerPoint—attention to the Color Blind
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 for Microsoft Products
UNT Office of Disability Accommodation
UNT ODA Information for Faculty and Staff
UNT Required Statements for Publications and Syllabi
Making Adobe PDFs Accessible and Adobe Improves Support for Accessible PDFs on Mobile Devices