Creating an accessible PowerPoint presentation for the Web

Click here if you are using PowerPoint 2007

The process for creating an accessible PowerPoint presentation is similar to creating an accessible Word document.

1. Open your presentation in PowerPoint.

2. Choose Adobe PDF from the menu bar, and select Change Conversion Settings.
   
   
   
   

3. The Acrobat PDFMaker conversion settings window will open. Check the box in front of "Enable accessibility and reflow with Tagged PDF". Choose what other options you want. Click OK. Once you change the settings, you won't have to do it again.
   
   
   
   
   

4. For each image you insert into PowerPoint, you will need to add Alternative Text, which is text that describes the image and is read to the blind student by the computer. Otherwise, the student will not know anything about the image. Right-click on the image, and select Format Picture from the drop-down menu.
   
   
   
   
5. Click the Web tab, and type your simple tag information in the Alternative text box. When finished, click OK.
   
   
   
   
6. Do the same for any other images you might have in your document. You will also need to do the same for any charts or diagrams you might have. For charts and diagrams, though, you will need to give detailed descriptions so blind students get the same information as sighted students.
   
   Tables are a little tricker because you have to finish the table, then right-click on the outline of the table, and choose Save as Picture. Then you need to save it to your computer, delete the table in PowerPoint, and insert the picture of the table before choosing Format Picture.
   
   
7. When you are finished with your presentation, click the Convert to Adobe PDF button on the Word toolbar. Alternatively, you can click Adobe PDF on the menu at the top of the page, and select Convert to Adobe PDF.
   
   
   
   

8. If you are asked to save the file, click Yes. Browse to where you want to save your PDF file. Saving the PDF will begin the conversion process. After clicking Save, the Converting to Adobe PDF screen appears.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

9. The conversion process is finished.
   
   
   
   
   

10. Upload both the PDF and the PPT to Blackboard (or wherever else on the web).