Use a sans serif font, 22-point minimum – such as Arial, Helvetica or Verdana that are large enough for both projectors and online viewing
Avoid using text shadow or glow effects for any text as they may not be accessible by screen readers
Avoid using italics or upper-case letters for emphasis
2. Colours
Use appropriate colour contrast (e.g. black and white)
Avoid using solid dark colour backgrounds
Make sure that all information conveyed with colour can also be conveyed without colour
For print documents use a matte/non-glossy finish
3. Spacing
Avoid putting a lot of information on a slide as it can be confusing and unreadable
Follow the rule of thumb – four lines per slide
4. Images
Set wrapping style of non-text elements as “In line with text”
Add alternative text to graphics and images
5. Check Accessibility
Perform a test of the document’s accessibility prior to distributing it either via email or by posting it to the internet. Use a screen reader such as JAWS, NVDA, WindowEyes, etc. Preferably, develop an Accessibility Testing team of persons experienced at using Assistive Technologies.
Microsoft Powerpoint also has a built-in accessibility feature. However, do not rely on ‘machine’ testing alone to test for accessibility.
To access the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Powerpoint: In the File tab, click on Info, Check for Issues, and then Check Accessibility.