Accessible Presentations
How can I make presentations accessible?
Whichever platform you use to make presentations, it is important that you pay attention to accessibility when you create your material and present it.
There are two parts to presenting:
- The materials (such as slide decks) used during your presentation.
- The event where you speak to an audience, usually with visual aids.
Each requires its own consideration.
Preparing Presentation Materials
We strongly recommend using Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint to create accessible slides. PowerPoint is available through WVU to students, faculty, and staff at no cost. We don’t recommend tools like Canva or Apple’s iWork Keynote program, which do not have robust accessibility checkers. Google Workplace does not have an accessibility checker at all and requires the use of a third-party add-on to check slides for presentation materials.
Slide decks must meet the same accessibility standards as most documents. For presentation slide decks, text should be perceivable and understandable for individuals who are Blind, have low vision, or are otherwise visually impaired. An accessible slide deck must:
- Have sufficient color contrast
- Have sufficient font size
- Be organized in a way that is logical and makes sense when read in order
- Contain functional interactive elements (such as hyperlinks)
- Use clear, appropriate language for the audience
- Describe images or illustrations through Alt Text
- Function consistently whether the user is accessing the document on a desktop or mobile device.
Since items on a slide can be set to appear in any order or location, reading order is an element that requires special attention when creating slides. The reading order should be checked to confirm that it is logical when not accompanied by the speaker.
Learn How to Set Reading Order in PowerPoint from Microsoft.
Learn about Reading Order in Google Slides from Perkins School for the Blind.
Facilitation Tips
In addition to providing accessible materials, it’s important to consider accessible delivery.
Livestreams hosted on a WVU webpage, social media account, or learning platform must be broadcast with Live Captioning in place.
In certain cases, Sign Language Interpreting may also be required for individuals who are attending the event if it is simultaneously offered in-person, offline.
Consider the following best practices when presenting live:
- Provide digital copies of materials whenever possible. Some participants won’t be able to use printed materials like slide handouts and may need screen readers to review projected slides.
- Run an accessibility checker on materials you will post online, whether that’s a handout or slides. Once you upload them they are web content!
- Cover every piece of information on slides or handouts. Content that is only in your materials may not be perceivable to participants.
- In a live presentation, consider people with undisclosed access needs or invisible disabilities:
- Speak clearly with an even tone and volume. If you are in a large space, you may wish to request a lavalier-style microphone to make sure you reach the back.
- Avoid turning your back to your audience while speaking. Even if you are using a microphone, some may need to lip-read to understand.
- If you have videos or images in your presentation materials, provide a verbal description. Make sure all video with meaningful audio is closed captioned.
- If a presentation will be recorded and uploaded later, keep in mind that both captions and verbal narration may be required for the action on screen – and you can provide the verbal narration as you go!
- If multiple people will be presenting, make sure each person identifies themselves before speaking so it is clear to listeners who is speaking. Only one person should speak at a time.
Reach out to the ADA Coordinator for ideas on how to make your events, lectures and other activities more accessible!