Google Slides
Important Highlights
Titles: each slide should have a unique title in a Title box; if a topic takes more than one slide, add "(1 of 3)" or "(continued)" at the end of the titles for subsequent slides.
Reading Order: ensure that the reading order is set appropriately. This can be tricky to do in Google Slides - see additional information below.
Hyperlinks: avoid using statements such as "click here" and "this link"; instead, use descriptive text for your hyperlinks so that those using assistive technologies know what they are clicking on.
Use of Color: ensure that the colors you use are of sufficient contrast; one good way to test this is to print the page in black and white and confirm that the differences can still be interpreted; WebAIM's Contrast Checker is also a good resource.
Alt Text: add alt text to visual content including tables, images, and graphs; right click on the content, select "Alt Text", and type your alt text into the description section.
Titles
Slide titles make it easier for users, particularly those using assistive technology, to navigate through a presentation so it is important that each slide has a unique title. Slide layouts are comprised of content containers that govern how content is displayed on the page. You should use predefined layouts instead of manually created text boxes, because the layouts are specially coded to work well with adaptive technologies like screen readers.
First, it is important to ensure that each slide contains a title text box.
New Presentations:
Add a new slide with a "Title" text box.
Enter a unique title in the "Title" text box on the slide.
Text boxes can be moved and the text can be edited once a title box has been identified.
DO NOT delete the boxes and replace them - this removes any background metadata that the screen reader recognizes as a title text box and the slide may not read correctly.
Edit Existing Presentations:
In the “Layout” drop-down menu, select the layout you would like to use.
Type a unique name in the "Title" text box that is present on the slide.
Text boxes can be moved and the text can be edited once a title box has been identified.
Reading Order
Make sure the objects on your slide are presented in logical reading order. To test the reading order, put your cursor on the top, left-most object on your slide. Now press the Tab key to select each additional object. This is the order that screen readers will read the content of your slide. The default order of objects is first governed by the slide layout and second by the order in which you added objects to the slide. To adjust the order:
Select the element that you want to change.
Select the Arrange menu > Order.
"Send backward" raises the object higher in the reading order. "Bring forward" makes the object lower in the reading order.
Test the new reading order with the Tab key again.
You may need to experiment with object grouping in order to create a logical reading order.
Hyperlinks
Hyperlinks are important to send a reader to more information, but the reader should know where they are going when they click the link and why.
Always use descriptive hyperlinks.
"Click here to learn more" doesn't help a person know where the link will take them.
Try to make the hyperlink a few words long so that people with weak motor skills can still use the mouse to click.
Hyperlink URL addresses should begin with http:// or https://.
Ensure that the content that the link takes the reader to is also accessible.
Use of Color
A significant portion of the population has some form of color blindness. It is important to not rely solely on color to convey the necessary information.
Partner color with other meaningful information like text, shape, or pattern.
Use high contrasting colors. If you're unsure if your colors contrast enough, check out WebAIM's online contrast checker.
One great way to check this is printing the presentation or document in black and white and reviewing - can the meaning still be understood without color?
Alt Text
When descriptive text is added to any visual element, communication is clear and direct because users can read and know the exact information others want them to know. Without descriptive text, communication is indirect and unclear because it relies on the user to be able to see and interpret the information in the picture.
Right click on the content
Select "Alt text”
Type your alt text into the description section
Additional Considerations
Avoid serif fonts and italics unless it is required by specific formatting guidelines such as APA or MLA.
Use styles embedded in Google for bullets and numbered lists.
Use the Columns feature in Google for laying out text in multiple columns as opposed to using the tab button or tables to format.
DO NOT use tables to format a slide. Tables should be used to represent data only.
