Good practice for
PowerPoint
presentations
All you need to know to make your
slides accessible to all.
In general…
• Everyone benefits if the slides are made
available before a lecture for students to
download in their preferred format.
• Everyone benefits if the sequence of
slides matches the sequence of
presentation.
• No one benefits if too much information is
presented on a slide.
Slide format
• Use clear (not stylised) font - minimum size
of 24 where possible.
• Write no more on a slide than you would on a
postcard.
• Use short concise ideas and content, using
bullet points and lists appropriately.
• Use a template – to ensure headings and
associated text can be collated within the
outline view.
• Displaying text line by line can ensure
information is portrayed in small chunks.
See:
http://accessibilityessentials.jisctechdis.ac.uk/2003/
AE3/modules/implement%20incl%20practice/sequenti
al%20display.html
• Use a template – to ensure headings and
associated text can be collated within the
outline view.
Tonal contrast
• Tonal contrast between the text and
background colour should be sufficient to
enable an audience to easily read the
content of the slide, without being
dazzled by the contrast (Ivory / dark
blue; pale yellow/dark green).
• Avoid background images or effects. In
general a patterned background makes
text less readable, distracting from slide
content.
Background colours
• If presenting in a light room, use dark
coloured text on a light coloured
background. In a darkened room, use dark
background and light text.
• Avoid transition gimmicks including sound
options as this is likely to add an
unnecessary distraction from
understanding of the content.
Students with visual
impairments…
• may not be able to access the content of
slides.
• Read aloud key points.
• Remember to give a description of images
or diagrams, where necessary.
Deaf or hard of hearing
students…
• will not be able to read the slide and at
the same time lip-read or watch their
interpreter.
• Time should be allowed for reading.
Students with SpLDs…
• Students with SpLDs (specific learning
differences) may not be able to take in
information if slides are displayed briefly
and if a tutor continues to talk without
referring to the slide.
Assistive technology users
• Some students may use screen readers to
access slide content.
• When using bullet points and lists ensure
every point is ended with punctuation (e.g. a
Full Stop, Semi-Colon or Comma). This will
enable a screen reader user to distinguish
between different ideas.
• Without this punctuation, different ideas will
be read as a single sentence, without pausing
between concepts.
Assistive technology users
• You may be asked to produce slides in rich
text format (RTF) and to provide text
alternatives to enable a screen reader user to
access the content.
• This will be indicated in a student's Personal
Learning Support Plan (PLSP) with
accompanying instructions.
• For information on PLSPs, see:
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentservices/disability/index.php.
en?menu=3&catid=4724&subid=0#plsp
References
• This information is from:
Using Microsoft®PowerPoint Accessibly
within Teaching and Learning.
http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/AccessibilityEssent
ials/2003/AE3/index.html
• Accessibility and PowerPoint.
http://www.open.ac.uk/inclusiveteaching/pages/in
clusive-teaching/accessibility-and-powerpoint.php