Accessible PowerPoint (implementation guide)

Columns are not organised using tabs, but using the "Add or remove columns" function. The space between the columns is large enough to visually separate them from each other.

What is meant by this?

When using columns in PowerPoint, it is advisable to use PowerPoint's "Add or remove columns" function. This can ensure a consistent display in a presentation.

In PowerPoint, columns are a way of dividing the text in a presentation into several vertical sections. This allows long texts to be organised more clearly, for example, by dividing them into several columns. The columns can be the same size or have different widths. Depending on requirements, a different number of columns can be created, although not too many columns should be used for the sake of clarity.

If several columns are used in a presentation, sufficient space should be left between these columns so that they stand out visually from one another and are easier for recipients to recognise. The space between columns should always be at least 6 mm.

Why is it important?

If columns in PowerPoint are not created using the associated functions, but by manually inserting tabs or spaces, this can lead to problems with screen reader or speech output lectures. It is therefore important to use the relevant PowerPoint function to create columns to ensure that the presentation is barrier-free and accessible.

If the space between the columns is not large enough, this can impair the legibility of the presentation, as the text appears to overlap for some readers and therefore becomes illegible. For recipients with visual impairments or other limitations, such as dyslexia, it can be difficult to perceive the text spacing between closely spaced columns. In addition, if the text spacing is too narrow, the letters may merge for the recipients or words may be displayed incompletely.

By using an appropriate column width or spacing between the columns, readability can be increased so that all recipients can read the presentation without restrictions.

How can I implement/check it?

To insert columns in PowerPoint using the "Add or remove columns" function, you can follow the steps below:

1. Position the cursor at the point in the text where you want to insert the columns.
2. Click on the "Start" tab in the menu bar.
3. Find the group "Paragraph" and click on " Add or remove columns " (it looks like three small bars next to each other).
4. Select the number of columns you want to insert from the drop-down menu or enter the number manually.

If you want to remove the columns later, repeat steps 1-3 and then select "One column" from the drop-down menu.

To customise the columns in PowerPoint, you can follow the steps below:

1. Position the cursor at the point in the text where you want to insert the columns.
2. Click on the "Start" tab in the menu bar.
3. Find the "Paragraph" group and click on "Add or remove columns" (it looks like three small bars next to each other).
4. You can adjust the spacing between the columns under "More columns" or "More columns".

By customising the columns in PowerPoint, you can ensure that your text is optimally formatted and presented.

To customise the columns in PowerPoint, you can follow the steps below:

1. Position the cursor at the point in the text where you want to insert the columns.
2. Click on the "Start" tab in the menu bar.
3. Find the "Paragraph" group and click on "Add or remove columns" (it looks like three small bars next to each other).
4. You can adjust the spacing between the columns under "More columns" or "More columns".

By customising the columns in PowerPoint, you can ensure that your text is optimally formatted and presented.