Abstract depiction of a slideshow template with headers and bright colors.

Contributors:Kari Goin Kono, Misty Hamideh, Lindsay Murphy

This guide outlines essential strategies for ensuring your instructional slides meet digital accessibility standards. Learn top priorities, including using built-in slide layouts, adding descriptive alt text, and checking reading order, to create a clear and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Digital accessibility changes for PSU faculty

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice updated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to set clear requirements for accessible web content and mobile applications used by public entities, including public universities. The rule adopts WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the technical standard. The original compliance date of April 2026 has been extended and the new compliance deadline for PSU is April 26, 2027. Learn more about Title II compliance at PSU.

Explore instructional accessibility topics

How do I create accessible slides?

Accessible slides are designed to meet WCAG technical standards organized around making content Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (the POUR framework). This ensures users with a wide range of dis/abilities can access the information in all slides. Not all of the following points will apply to every slide deck, but many will apply to most.

You can download and use the Accessibility Checklist for Instructional Materials to review slides for accessibility.

Apply accessible file settings.

These settings help students find the slide deck, access its content, and navigate it using a screen reader.

Set the default language of the slide deck to match its primary content.
Include a descriptive file name and title. Give your slide deck a descriptive file name and include a title on each slide.

Apply accessible layout settings.

Use built-in layout features and consistent design practices to improve the navigability and readability of your slides for all users.

Give every slide a unique title. Every slide needs a descriptive title, even if it’s "Introduction (Continued)." Unique titles help students navigating by a slide list know where they are. Avoid generic titles such as "Slide 1" or "More Information."
Use built-in slide layouts and a consistent format. Use built-in title, subtitle, and content layouts instead of manually adding text boxes whenever possible. Slide templates provided by the software will ensure the content stays in the correct structural "containers."
Verify the reading order. Screen readers read elements in the order they were added, which is often backward. Use the Selection Pane (PowerPoint) or Tab (Google Sheets) to confirm the order is accurate.
Include slide numbers. Slide numbers help students navigate and track their location within the content.
Include speaker notes for additional context. Speaker notes can provide additional information, especially when slides are shared asynchronously.

Use accessible fonts and formatting.

Use built-in formatting tools to organize your content, which work with assistive technology to ensure that visual styling is translated into accessible information.

Use clear, consistent formatting. Use sans-serif fonts of at least 24-point for body text and 32-point for titles and headings. Avoid using all caps except for explained acronyms.
Check color contrast between text and background. Use WebAIM’s Contrast Checker to identify accessible color combinations.
Avoid using color alone to convey meaning. Add text labels or icons whenever color is used to communicate information.
Use columns for layout design. Do not use spacing, tabs, or tables to create columns.
Use built-in bulleted or numbered list formatting instead of manually adding dashes or numbers.

Create accessible links.

Assistive technology users often navigate through a link menu, so use descriptive link text that tells students where the URL will take them. From a cognitive accessibility perspective, using descriptive links helps maintain information flow.

Add descriptive link text (e.g., "Access the PSU Library", instead of “click here”).
Avoid pasting raw URLs into documents.

Include accessible images, charts, and media.

Presenting images and media with alternative text and visual formats supports Universal Design for Learning in addition to meeting WCAG requirements.

Add alternative text for all non-decorative images. (For help, visit ASU's Image Accessibility Generator.) If an image is also a link, include a description of where the link leads.
Avoid flashing images.
Ensure linked video and audio files have accurate, synchronized captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions.
Only use simple tables. Slides can support tables with one row or column of headers. Keep tables small, ideally no more than about three rows. Use Excel or other software for complex tables with two or more rows/columns of headers, or larger tables.

Start with a PSU template

Use this ready-to-go template to get started quickly. It’s already set up with accessible structure and formatting.

This slide deck is already available in your Google Slides templates. To use it: Go to Google Slides, select Template Gallery at the top right of the home screen. Be sure to select the Portland State University tab. Alternatively, within an open presentation, select File > New > From template gallery.