Why Accessibility Matters in PowerPoint Presentations
Digital communication plays a crucial role in engaging with audiences. Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT) has been a popular digital communication tool for quite some time. However, traditional presentations often lack essential features that make them accessible to people with disabilities. Such presentations can be challenging for people with visual impairment, dyslexia, light sensitivity, color blindness, and other conditions. It is important to note that approximately 2.2 billion individuals worldwide are affected by vision impairment.
In the realm of design, accessibility refers to making content available and accessible to a diverse spectrum of people, including those with disabilities. This article discusses the significance of accessibility in PPT presentations that aim to be universally accessible and communicate successfully.
The Mandate for Accessible Communication
In 1990, the US adopted the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a regulatory mechanism that imposed accessibility-related requirements on digital service providers. Similarly, in 2018, the Canadian government introduced Bill C-81, the Accessible Canada Act, which came into force in 2019. The World Wide Web Association introduced the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure greater accessibility for web / digital content.
For businesses, making presentations accessible is not just about meeting legal requirements but also about embracing inclusivity and expanding reach. Accessible presentations open doors to a wider audience, enhance brand reputation and signal a commitment to inclusivity. The benefits of accessible presentations include:
- Better user experience: Accessibility features—like readable text, logical slide structure, and alternative image text—enhance the experience for all users, not only those with disabilities, by creating a more intuitive and enjoyable interaction with the presentation.
- Innovation and creativity: Making information accessible leads to fresh ideas for sharing it. Accessible design helps create presentations that are more engaging and meaningful for everyone.
- Enhanced Adaptability Across Platforms: In today's fast-evolving tech landscape, presentations must be adaptable across various devices and platforms. Accessibility ensures that content retains its clarity and functionality, regardless of how or where it's accessed.
Why is Accessibility Often Seen as Low Priority
Accessibility is often overlooked due to:
Limited awareness: Many designers aren’t familiar with accessibility guidelines.
Perceived complexity: Accessibility features are seen as difficult to implement.
Audience misconceptions: Some assume their audience doesn’t include people with disabilities.
Focus on aesthetics: Designers often prioritize visual aesthetics over accessibility, neglecting features that cater to diverse needs.
Time constraints: Testing and implementing accessibility can be time-consuming and may require specialized tools or expertise.
Complex information: Financial data and charts can be challenging to make accessible.
Regulatory compliance: Sometimes, regulatory bodies do not enforce accessibility standards for presentations, reducing presenters’ motivation to integrate these features.
Evalueserve’s Approach to Accessible PowerPoint Presentations
Creating accessible PPTs requires effort and expertise. Evalueserve’s DTP team uses the SLIDE approach (developed by Luis Pérez, Ph.D.) to enhance accessibility in presentations:
S
L
I
D
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Style
Clear headings, lists, and consistent fonts and colors improve visual clarity.
Links
Descriptive links replace generic phrases like “click here.”
Image
Descriptive alt text is included for all images and graphics.
Design
Easy-to-read fonts and high contrast between text and background enhance usability.
Evaluation
Presentations are regularly assessed for accessibility through testing tools and user feedback.
The SLIDE approach helps create presentations that are accessible to a wider audience, including those with disabilities.
Evalueserve's Presentation Accessibility Service
Evalueserve’s Design Services team, with over 150+ specialists, supports investment banks, advisory firms, wealth managers, and consulting firms globally. Key offerings to enhance presentation accessibility include:
- Customized Accessibility Compliance - WCAG A, AA, AAA: Evalueserve offers tailored accessibility compliance to meet WCAG 2.0 standards at levels A, AA, and AAA, ensuring alignment with regional regulations like ADA (USA) and AODA (Canada)
- WCAG-compliant design: The team designs presentations per WCAG 2.0 and uses PowerPoint’s accessibility check feature as the first level of review. However, as accessibility tests do not fully cover WCAG 2.0 requirements, we also manually check the quality of presentations.
- PPT add-in: Our proprietary add-in simplifies accessibility by identifying and fixing multiple issues with a single click, streamlining adjustments for a smoother user experience.
- Design expertise: Evalueserve leverages a large team of graphic designers who have expertise in creating visually appealing yet accessible PPTs that ensure compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines.
- Audio and video accessibility: We offer multiple services, such as adding subtitles for videos, transcriptions, and audio descriptions, that enhance accessibility for individuals with hearing or visual impairments.
- Navigation enhancement: Our experienced team implements logical reading orders, accessible hyperlinks, and structured content to facilitate smooth navigation for users who rely on assistive technologies.
By combining the strengths of our large design team and dedicated quality assurance unit, Evalueserve delivers visually appealing and universally accessible presentations. Contact us if you are looking for ways to make your presentations accessible and compliant.
