Skip to secondary navigation Skip to main content

Presentations Training Videos

How to Author and Test Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations for Accessibility

The Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice (AED CoP) created this series of videos to explain and demonstrate the minimum steps needed to ensure your Microsoft PowerPoint presentation is Section 508 conformant.

Module 0: Introduction & Background

Module 0: Introduction & Background

Learn the minimum steps needed to ensure your PowerPoint presentation is Section 508 conformant.

0h 3:50m

Module 1: Creating the PresentationÌs Layout Design and Establishing the Logical Reading Order

Module 1: Creating the Presentation’s Layout Design and Establishing the Logical Reading Order

Discover how to use the slide layout, themes and customized master slides to establish a logical reading order when creating your presentation.

0h 9:03m

Module 2: Ensuring the Contrast Ratio Between Text and Background is Sufficient

Module 2: Ensuring the Contrast Ratio Between Text and Background is Sufficient

When choosing the color palette for your slide’s design, close attention must be given to ensuring that there is enough color contrast between foreground and background.

0h 2:38m

Module 3: Ensuring Color and Other Visual Characteristics that Convey Information are Also Described in Text

Module 3: Ensuring Color and Other Visual Characteristics that Convey Information are Also Described in Text

Discover how to consider color and other visual characteristics, such as size, shape, and location are used to convey meaning when creating your presentation.

0h 2:25m

Module 4: Formatting Columns Correctly

Module 4: Formatting Columns Correctly

When modifying a slide’s layout, it may be necessary to structure content into columns. Learn how to ensure that content is read in the proper reading order by using the column tool.

0h 2:13m

Module 5: Formatting Lists Properly

Module 5: Formatting Lists Properly

Discover how to use lists to organize and structure content so that assistive technology can identify that information is contained in a group, and convey the relationship between each item within the list.

0h 2:29m

Module 6: Using Built-In Features to Create Data Tables

Module 6: Using Built-In Features to Create Data Tables

Learn how to use the built-in table features so that assistive technology can read a data tables information in a meaningful manner.

0h 3:48m

Module 7: Adding Alternative Text to Images and Other Objects

Module 7: Adding Alternative Text to Images and Other Objects

Assistive Technology cannot infer meaning from images and other objects, such as pictures, images of text, images of tables, shapes, and icons with hyperlinks. Learn how to apply “alt text” to objects to ensure equivalent access the information.

0h 3:13m

Module 8: Creating Links with Unique and Descriptive Names

Module 8: Creating Links with Unique and Descriptive Names

Learn how to add links to a presentation so that each link has a unique and descriptive name to allow assistive technology users to determine the destination, function or purpose of links.

0h 3:07m

Module 9: Making Vital Background Information Accessible

Module 9: Making Vital Background Information Accessible

Learn how to ensure that vital information, created as a watermark or placed in the Header of Footer of the slide, can be accessed by assistive technology.

0h 2:28m

Module 10: Formatting Text for the Intended Language

Module 10: Formatting Text for the Intended Language

Discover how to use the language tool to programmatically set the presentation language to enable assistive technology to infer and correctly pronounce content.

0h 2:22m

Module 11: Ensuring Descriptions of Embedded Audio, Video and Multimedia Files are Accurate

Module 11: Ensuring Descriptions of Embedded Audio, Video and Multimedia Files are Accurate

Learn how to embed audio-only, video-only or multimedia files into your presentation so that individuals with disabilities have comparable access to the information.

0h 2:20m

Module 12: Excluding Flashing Objects

Module 12: Excluding Flashing Objects

Learn how flashing objects can cause seizures and should never be used and cannot be considered accessible. Warning: This video demonstrates a type of flashing object that should never be used.

0h 1:27m

Module 13: Saving in the .pptx Format with a Descriptive Filename

Module 13: Saving in the .pptx Format with a Descriptive Filename

Discover how a descriptive file name identifying the document or its purpose helps everyone, including people with disabilities, locate, open, and switch between documents.

0h 2:31m

Before You Go

We're always working to improve the information and resources on this website. To suggest a new resource for this or another page, please contact us.

Updated: December 2019

Section508.gov

An official website of the General Services Administration

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov