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Creating Accessible Learning: Accessibility Checker

Why It Matters

The Accessibility Checker is a built-in tool that allows you to check the accessibility of your PowerPoint. Available in all apps in the Microsoft Office Suite (2010 and later), the Accessibility Checker can review the content you’ve built and provide you with a list of accessibility errors, warnings, and tips, as well as additional information and help for fixing issues.

Although it doesn’t catch everything, it will still alert you to adjustments that may need to be made, which will assist you in creating accessible PowerPoints while also helping you learn more about accessibility over time.

Accessibility Guideline: Using the Accessibility Checker

  1. With your PPT file open, click “File.” Under the “Info” tab, locate the “Check for Issues” box. Click the drop-down arrow and select, “Check Accessibility.” (Figure 1)
  2. The Accessibility Checker pane will open a box on the right side of your screen, detailing its results. Click on each item to be taken to that slide and item. (Figure 2)
  3. Details about why and how to fix each item can be found at the bottom of the Accessibility Checker pane under "Additional Information."
  4. Once an item has been addressed, the Accessibility Checker removes it from the list.

Note: Sometimes the Accessibility Checker may list things that, upon review, are not an issue. In that case, it’s okay to still have items listed within the Accessibility Checker.

Figure 1. The Info screen is displayed. To the left are all of the File menu options. To the right of this are several options. The Check for Issues drop-down box is selected and 3 options are shown, the second of which is the Check Accessibility tool. Figure 2. An example of the Accessibility Checker pane. It lists "Inspection Results" and separates them into 3 categories of Errors, Warnings, and Tips. One of the tips is selected and so the bottom of the pane lists "Additional Information" and explains the why and how of fixing an issue.

Accessibility Checker Resources