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How do I create a compelling PowerPoint to present to someone who is blind? (self.Blind)
submitted by Sufficient_Flatworm
Hi Reddit, I have a big presentation coming up and need to present virtually to a blind/visually impaired audience. Are there any best practise rules I should follow or things I can do to ensure it is as accessible as possible?
For instance, I am not sure whether to include images as I don't know if a screen reader would pick them up, or to (somehow?) add an image description, or just to stick to plain text. Thank you
For instance, I am not sure whether to include images as I don't know if a screen reader would pick them up, or to (somehow?) add an image description, or just to stick to plain text. Thank you
[deleted] 12 points 2y ago
[deleted]
Sufficient_Flatworm [OP] 6 points 2y ago
I'm going to present it virtually, probably through screen sharing. I think it might be a good idea to send it in advance to them so they can become familiar or use any software needed to access it in advance.
How do I use image description on a PP slide? Is this simply creating a text box under it with a brief description of the image or is there a 'proper' way to do this? Thanks
How do I use image description on a PP slide? Is this simply creating a text box under it with a brief description of the image or is there a 'proper' way to do this? Thanks
[deleted] 5 points 2y ago
[deleted]
DrillInstructorJan 7 points 2y ago
Is there such a thing as a compelling powerpoint presentation to anyone? Ever?
mcmastylol 2 points 2y ago
lowkey no
i mean you can have a good presentation in general but even sighted people don't really watch the powerpoint itself much
I think it's more for the person presenting than for the audience in a way like a cue card you can look at without seeming unprofessional
don't get me wrong though for sighted people a visually appealing powerpoint is nice to look at in general but it doesn't grant much more than like "oh nice background"
i mean you can have a good presentation in general but even sighted people don't really watch the powerpoint itself much
I think it's more for the person presenting than for the audience in a way like a cue card you can look at without seeming unprofessional
don't get me wrong though for sighted people a visually appealing powerpoint is nice to look at in general but it doesn't grant much more than like "oh nice background"
phistomefel_smeik 1 points 2y ago
The key is to use as little effects, colors and text as possible. Plain white or creme-colored background, a good, big and readable font and only a few key words/short key statements on each page. Maybe use a (not crowded) picture or graph, depending on the situation. Never use the page-changing effects, they look silly ;)
If done right, powerpoint can support the learning outcome, especially because you can print them out later and have a nice short summary. Also some people learn better when reading instead of listening.
The most important thing is: Dont overcrowd your presentation. As a plus I think if you follow this advice, it make your presentation more accessible for all sorts of people.
Powerpoint is a good tool that gets abused alot, because people get too fancy with it or put a wall of text on each page. In my opinion thats not the fault of powerpoint, its just that those people never had a good introduction to this tool. In academic context or any other context where presenting stuff is your livelihood, the presentations usually get less overcrowded and you quickly learn that they can be a useful support.
If done right, powerpoint can support the learning outcome, especially because you can print them out later and have a nice short summary. Also some people learn better when reading instead of listening.
The most important thing is: Dont overcrowd your presentation. As a plus I think if you follow this advice, it make your presentation more accessible for all sorts of people.
Powerpoint is a good tool that gets abused alot, because people get too fancy with it or put a wall of text on each page. In my opinion thats not the fault of powerpoint, its just that those people never had a good introduction to this tool. In academic context or any other context where presenting stuff is your livelihood, the presentations usually get less overcrowded and you quickly learn that they can be a useful support.
zersiax 5 points 2y ago
Most of your quesstion was already answered but yeah .. you are essentially trying to serve two audiences. Screenreader users, who will not care whatsoever about how your slides are layed out visually as most of that stuff will get lost in translation, as will images which will get rendered down to the textual description you provide either verbally or textually, and visually impaired people who CAN see your slides but will probably mostly care about readability rather than slides looking flashy/compelling.
Sending the presentation out in advance is not a bad idea, I've been in situations before where this approach was useful :) Good luck! :)
Sending the presentation out in advance is not a bad idea, I've been in situations before where this approach was useful :) Good luck! :)
casserole_cat 4 points 2y ago
For me people always try to cram to much information into what slide and what this means is small text. So make sure to use maybe a creme colored background (white is too bright for some). And big black bold text.
I’m legally blind and 16 so back when school was in person I could never see the slides for multiple reasons but mainly that people tried to make it so visually pleasing while making it loose in accessibility.
Now I’m not a screen reader so I don’t know about that. But to me you can add pictures just explain what’s going on in them like casually integrate it into your presentation of what you try doesn’t work. Such as “now on the right we have blah blah blah”.
I’m not sure if this is in person though. But I’m beginning to think it’s not in person but still my stuff applies I think? Because not everyone use screen readers some of us with more vision rely on bigger text and contrast. But you will probably want to wait for a comment from a screen reader to help you out also.
I’m legally blind and 16 so back when school was in person I could never see the slides for multiple reasons but mainly that people tried to make it so visually pleasing while making it loose in accessibility.
Now I’m not a screen reader so I don’t know about that. But to me you can add pictures just explain what’s going on in them like casually integrate it into your presentation of what you try doesn’t work. Such as “now on the right we have blah blah blah”.
I’m not sure if this is in person though. But I’m beginning to think it’s not in person but still my stuff applies I think? Because not everyone use screen readers some of us with more vision rely on bigger text and contrast. But you will probably want to wait for a comment from a screen reader to help you out also.
Sufficient_Flatworm [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you for your detailed reply! I've made the colour and size changes. I'm a bit worried it doesn't look very attractive now but definitely more important that it's reaedable! This will be shared virtually.
Kamirose 3 points 2y ago
If it's a recent version of PowerPoint, go to the review tab on the ribbon, and there should be a button called "accessibility checker." If you click that it can give you tips on making the file itself more accessible, so if you plan on distributing it to the audience they will be better able to navigate it with screen readers.
Sufficient_Flatworm [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you, wasn't aware of it before but it's definitely helped a lot now.
WorldlyBoysenberry26 1 points 2y ago
Yes! This is also my recommendation. The accessibility checker will walk you through things you need to pay attention to. It doesn’t catch everything, but it’s a really good start.
Assign alt text to your images. Double check your reading order. Don’t leave blank lines all over the place. You can use custom line spacing to avoid using blank lines for visual formatting. Avoid low-contrast color combinations. Use a large font size (16pt or higher).
As others have mentioned, less text is often better for PowerPoint presentations. Best practice is to use it more as a prompt for the presenter than a detailed guide for the audience.
Do share your file in advance.
Good luck!
Assign alt text to your images. Double check your reading order. Don’t leave blank lines all over the place. You can use custom line spacing to avoid using blank lines for visual formatting. Avoid low-contrast color combinations. Use a large font size (16pt or higher).
As others have mentioned, less text is often better for PowerPoint presentations. Best practice is to use it more as a prompt for the presenter than a detailed guide for the audience.
Do share your file in advance.
Good luck!
Marconius 2 points 2y ago
If you are going to use images, always add alt text if it's informative or important to the presentation. Use slide titles and stick with the preset designs and layouts since they are inherently accessible. Do *not* use text boxes or drawings, anything that goes into the floating drawing layer will not get read by a screen reader.
Don't put any important info in the slide headers and footers, since most screen readers bypass those entirely without a little extra work from the user.
If your slide is going to have a columned layout, use the Columns feature in Powerpoint and don't try to make them yourself with tabs or text boxes.
Watch your color contrast. All text 18pt. or 14pt bold and below need a 4.5:1 contrast ratio with the background color. All fonts and informative graphics above those sizes require a 3:1 contrast ratio, and the Microsoft Accessibility checker can help find those issues for you.
Footnotes are fine, just create them with the tools provided in PowerPoint, along with links and such. It's fine to create an appendix and reference slide.
Don't put any important info in the slide headers and footers, since most screen readers bypass those entirely without a little extra work from the user.
If your slide is going to have a columned layout, use the Columns feature in Powerpoint and don't try to make them yourself with tabs or text boxes.
Watch your color contrast. All text 18pt. or 14pt bold and below need a 4.5:1 contrast ratio with the background color. All fonts and informative graphics above those sizes require a 3:1 contrast ratio, and the Microsoft Accessibility checker can help find those issues for you.
Footnotes are fine, just create them with the tools provided in PowerPoint, along with links and such. It's fine to create an appendix and reference slide.
Sufficient_Flatworm [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Very helpful, thank you!
FrankenGretchen 2 points 2y ago
My first response is 'are you serious?' a visual presentation for a blind person? I realize that's not helpful but it has to be said.
On the helpful side. Present all your useful information verbally. PowerPoint was never sposed to be fill in info. It was the outline a presenter followed and built on. If you're not presenting the info on your slides, why are they there?
As for the slides, themselves, up your contrast and font size, drop all flowery or fine text. Don't put text over pictures. Don't change fonts for emphasis. And, seriously, don't put info on slides if you're not speaking it out loud. Sighted folks ignore slides, too, but if, ever in the future, the response to a blind person's question is "All that info was on the slides." (I didn't read in my presentation.) you messed up. It takes a minute to sort through all the accessibility software, make adjustments to some presenters aesthetic effects and then actually get through each slide. It's not possible to do that during a presentation if you want to catch everything the presenter is saying. If your presentation is effective, it's not necessary. Would you willingly go through each presentation you attend twice just to get all the info a sighted person got in one?
Another approach is to read each slide ad you start in on it. "On this next slide..." This is literally the spirit and law of accessibility in form and action. You could actually provide a file of yourself reading your slides and mention which one you're on when you change them but, again, this requires us to do the extra work to prepare for your presentation. If you find this tedious, cut your word count, shore up your points or drop the slide and do a thorough verbal presentation off note cards.
Accessibility may not be pretty in this format but it has certainly simplified life for everyone when it's integrated in everyday activities.
On the helpful side. Present all your useful information verbally. PowerPoint was never sposed to be fill in info. It was the outline a presenter followed and built on. If you're not presenting the info on your slides, why are they there?
As for the slides, themselves, up your contrast and font size, drop all flowery or fine text. Don't put text over pictures. Don't change fonts for emphasis. And, seriously, don't put info on slides if you're not speaking it out loud. Sighted folks ignore slides, too, but if, ever in the future, the response to a blind person's question is "All that info was on the slides." (I didn't read in my presentation.) you messed up. It takes a minute to sort through all the accessibility software, make adjustments to some presenters aesthetic effects and then actually get through each slide. It's not possible to do that during a presentation if you want to catch everything the presenter is saying. If your presentation is effective, it's not necessary. Would you willingly go through each presentation you attend twice just to get all the info a sighted person got in one?
Another approach is to read each slide ad you start in on it. "On this next slide..." This is literally the spirit and law of accessibility in form and action. You could actually provide a file of yourself reading your slides and mention which one you're on when you change them but, again, this requires us to do the extra work to prepare for your presentation. If you find this tedious, cut your word count, shore up your points or drop the slide and do a thorough verbal presentation off note cards.
Accessibility may not be pretty in this format but it has certainly simplified life for everyone when it's integrated in everyday activities.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
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