{"id":2540,"date":"2023-02-10T15:19:33","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T20:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/accessibilityhandbook\/?post_type=chapter&p=2540"},"modified":"2025-07-08T12:59:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T16:59:03","slug":"powerpoint-accessibility-accessibility-checker","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/accessibilityhandbook\/chapter\/powerpoint-accessibility-accessibility-checker\/","title":{"raw":"Accessibility Assistant","rendered":"Accessibility Assistant"},"content":{"raw":"Use PowerPoint's Accessibility Assistant, a built-in [pb_glossary id=\"1890\"]accessibility checker[\/pb_glossary] to check for common issues. Note, these tools may not catch all possible accessibility issues.\r\n[columns]\r\nTo use the Accessibility Assistant:\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. Select\u00a0Review<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Choose\u00a0Check Accessibility\u00a0<\/strong>button.\r\n
      \r\n \t
    1. The\u00a0Accessibility Assistant <\/strong>panel will open and show issues.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
    2. Select each issue to see it highlighted in the document.\r\n
        \r\n \t
      1. Select the arrow next to each warning to see further information (Windows only).<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nhttps:\/\/mediaspace.langara.ca\/media\/t\/0_ljog1y4b\r\n\r\n[\/columns]\r\nTo see real time accessibility status:\r\n
          \r\n \t
        1. At the bottom of the Accessibility Assistant panel select the Settings <\/strong>button.\r\n\"\"<\/li>\r\n \t
        2. In the Settings window, check the Show accessibility status for the Accessibility Assistant in the Status Bar<\/strong>\u00a0checkbox.<\/li>\r\n \t
        3. Click Accessibility: Investigate <\/strong>in the status bar at the bottom of the window to open the Accessibility Assistant pane.\u00a0Accessibility: Good to go<\/strong> indicates no violations of the automated checker's rules.<\/li>\r\n \t
        4. Additionally, check Show accessibility status for each slide<\/strong> to toggle on a real-time, inline accessibility checker. When content is added that violates the PowerPoint accessibility checker rules, a small human form icon will appear beside the slide thumbnail.\r\n\"\"<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

          Checker Results<\/h2>\r\nLike any automated tool, PowerPoint's Accessibility Assistant will not catch all accessibility issues. Here is a summary of what it does look for and how well it catches those issues:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
          Element checked<\/th>\r\nEffectiveness of check<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n
          Check reading order<\/td>\r\nStrong<\/strong>\r\nEvaluates the order of all objects on each slide to ensure correct reading order for assistive technology. Possible false positives based on rigid Z pattern (top-left, top-right, bottom-left, bottom, right) assumption.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
          Missing alt text<\/td>\r\nModerate<\/strong>\r\nFlags images that do not have alt text or where the alt text is the image file name.\r\nCannot identify if alt text is appropriate or meaningful.\r\nThe built-in image description generator is poor and should not be used.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
          Hard-to-read text contrast<\/td>\r\nModerate<\/strong>\r\nCan evaluate the contrast of text against the background inside shapes or shaded textboxes (including tables), but not text against slide background.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
          Missing audio or video subtitles<\/td>\r\nModerate<\/strong>\r\nEvaluates inserted video files for attached caption file. May produce false positive as the tool is unable to check if embedded or linked videos have captions.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
          Missing slide title\/Duplicate slide title<\/td>\r\nStrong<\/strong>\r\nAutomatically flags slides that do not have properly coded titles. Assists users to convert uncoded titles.\r\nFlags slides with duplicate titles.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
          Missing table header<\/td>\r\nStrong\r\n<\/strong>Flags tables that do not have properly marked up table header cells.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
          Use of merged or split cells<\/td>\r\n Strong<\/strong>\r\nFlags tables that include merged or split cells.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
          Default section name<\/td>\r\n Strong<\/strong>\r\nFlags sections named \"Default\" and includes a shortcut to rename Sections.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
          Duplicate section names<\/td>\r\n Strong\r\n<\/strong>Flags sections with duplicate names and includes a shortcut to rename Sections.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

          Additional elements not automatically checked:<\/h2>\r\nThe PowerPoint Accessibility Assistant does not assess links<\/a>, font size and style<\/a>, or proper use of lists<\/a> and SmartArt<\/a>.\r\n\r\nRead more about checking for accessibility issues with the Office Accessibility Checker<\/a> and learn about Office Accessibility Checker rules and messages.<\/a>","rendered":"

          Use PowerPoint’s Accessibility Assistant, a built-in accessibility checker<\/a> to check for common issues. Note, these tools may not catch all possible accessibility issues.<\/p>\n

          \n

          To use the Accessibility Assistant:<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Select\u00a0Review<\/strong> tab.<\/li>\n
          2. Choose\u00a0Check Accessibility\u00a0<\/strong>button.\n
              \n
            1. The\u00a0Accessibility Assistant <\/strong>panel will open and show issues.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
            2. Select each issue to see it highlighted in the document.\n
                \n
              1. Select the arrow next to each warning to see further information (Windows only).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n