Overview
Two slides can look identical, but one built from placeholders will be readable by assistive devices, while one built from freeform elements boxes won't pass the test. A placeholder carries built-in structure that a screen reader can recognize, unlike a text box that you draw yourself. So, it is best to use PowerPoint's slide designs, such as Title Slide, Agenda, Content, Quote, etc. as you design presentation content, as they contain special fields for respective elements.
Common Issues, By Severity
Severe issues are what actually block screen readers, so work through your severe issues before the minor ones to benefit your students sooner and to make the improvement process move faster.
| Level | Example |
Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | One or more slides have no title placeholder at all | Apply a layout with a Title placeholder in PowerPoint, then re-upload |
| Major | Missing alt text on meaningful images | Fix Issue prompt for alt text |
| Major | Reading order doesn't match the logical slide flow | Reading Order pane in PowerPoint, then re-upload |
| Major | Embedded video has no closed captions | Add captions in PowerPoint before re-uploading |
| Minor | Duplicate or generic slide titles ("Slide 4") | Rename titles descriptively in PowerPoint, then re-upload |
| Minor | Table missing a marked header row | Table Design > Header Row in PowerPoint, then re-upload |
Workflow
Following these steps will help you develop efficiencies in your habits and routines, so remediations take a matter of minutes.
- Open the Accessibility Report
Click the accessibility status icon beside the PowerPoint file to open a preview of the deck in split view. - Sort by severity, not by order
Work on Severe issues first, then Major, then Minor. Severe issues will drag down drag down the score the most and usually block the document for screen-reader users entirely.Severe → Major → Minor - Use "Fix Issue" where it's offered
If an issue shows a wrench icon, Panorama can walk you through the fix right inside the report, with no need to leave Brightspace. - Fix structural issues in PowerPoint itself
Issues that are rooted in the construction of a slide, such as missing titles, illogical reading order, tables without headers, or uncaptioned video, usually need to be corrected in PowerPoint, using its native tools for Layout, Reading Order, and Tables, and then re-uploaded to Brightspace. - Re-upload and re-check the score
Replace the file in Content with your corrected version. Panorama will automatically re-scan it and update the indicator. Repeat the steps until the file is significantly improved.
Issues Specific to PowerPoint
Watch out for four pitfalls that can cause the majority of Severe and Major issues that Panorama finds with PowerPoint files.
- When it appears fine, but there are missing or duplicate slide titles, so a screen reader can't build a navigable slide list. Address this by giving every slide a unique title placeholder, even if visually hidden from the design.
- When it appears fine but has a scrambled reading order, resulting in elements getting announced out of sequence. Address this by checking the Reading Order pane on any slide with more than a title and one text block.
- When you're using text over a photo or a dark theme, resulting in too too low contrast to be legible. Address this by running PowerPoint's accessibility checker.
- When a video is embedded but plays silent due to not having captions. Address this by adding closed captions before embedding, not after.
Best Practices
- Start every new slide from a built-in layout, not a blank slide with your own text boxes.
- Give every slide a unique, descriptive title — even if you hide it visually for design reasons.
- Run PowerPoint's built-in Accessibility Checker (Review tab) before uploading — it catches most structural issues before Panorama ever sees the file.
- Keep complex slides simple — if the reading order is confusing to you while tabbing through it, it will be worse for a screen reader.