Accessible PowerPoint (implementation guide)
The PowerPoint Accessibility Implementation Guide serves as support for the PowerPoint Accessibility Checklist. The order of the aspects and the structure according to categories are the same.
Each aspect is divided into three sections in the implementation guide:
Under the heading "What is meant by this?" you will find a detailed description of the aspect to be ticked off. The section "Why is it important?" describes which barriers you are removing with the respective aspect and for which groups of people this is essential. Finally, under the heading "How can I implement/check this?" you will find detailed instructions on how to implement or check the respective aspect.
6. Heading
6.2. Headings and labelling
Headings, figure and table captions appear only once, are meaningful and easy to understand.
What is meant by this?
Headings, figure and table captions should only appear once in a presentation to improve readability and clarity of the presentation. In addition, it is important that headings, figure and table captions are meaningful so that they quickly and effectively help readers to understand the content of the relevant sections or elements. Figure and table captions should also contain all the necessary information to help readers understand the data or information presented and, if necessary, refer back to the sources used.
Why is it important?
A clear structure is crucial for quickly grasping and understanding content. Headings and labelling play an important role here, as they help to structure the content of the presentation and quickly identify key sections and elements. This is particularly important for recipients with visual impairments, learning disabilities or reading difficulties, as clear structuring facilitates approval of content. A precise and meaningful heading, for example, enables readers to scan texts quickly and decide whether or not they want to continue reading. Figure and table labelling should also be precise and meaningful in order to enable easy comprehension and clear classification. Clear and precise labelling of figures and tables can also help to avoid misunderstandings and confusion, especially if several figures or tables appear in the same presentation.
How can I implement/check it?
When selecting headings, figure and table captions, you should follow a few principles to ensure that they are appropriate to the content and easy to understand:
- Describe the content precisely: The heading or caption should be short and concise and describe the content of the document or figure/table.
- Use clear and simple language: Avoid technical jargon and instead use language that is easy for the target group to understand.
- Use keywords: Use relevant keywords that give recipients an idea of what they can expect to find in the document or figure/table.
- Use formatting: Use a larger font size or bold type to emphasise the headline and make it easier to read.
- Check accuracy: Make sure that the information in the heading or labelling is correct and does not lead to misunderstandings.
- Avoid repeated labelling: Avoid repeating captions or headings in the document to avoid confusion.
- Consider the target group: Make sure that the headline or labelling is tailored to the needs and knowledge of the target group.
- Use the correct spellings and symbols: Use correct spelling and grammar, and use symbols and abbreviations that are understood by the target audience.
By following these principles, you can create headings, figure and table captions that are appropriate to the content and easy to understand.
The targeted placement of an image or table caption makes it possible to create a clear link between the caption and the associated element. As a rule, this function can be selected by simply right-clicking on the element, which makes it easier to place the label in the desired position and ensure that it does not appear isolated.