How to Optimize These Features for Accessibility

Using Presenter Coach and notes in PowerPoint can enhance the accessibility and usability of your presentation, both for yourself as a presenter and for your audience.

Presenter Coach in PowerPoint helps you practice your delivery and identifies areas for improvement, including inclusive language and pacing.

How to Use Presenter Coach

• Open your presentation.
• Go to "Slide Show" in the ribbon.
• Click "Rehearse with Coach".
• A new window will open, and Presenter Coach will provide real-time feedback.

Key Features of Presenter Coach

• Pacing Feedback: Ensures your presentation isn’t too fast or slow for accessibility.
• Inclusive Language Suggestions: Flags potentially non-inclusive language.
• Filler Word Detection: Identifies unnecessary words like “um” or “like.”
• Pitch and Tone Feedback: Helps make your voice more engaging and understandable.

Tips for Accessibility

• Use clear and simple language that is easy for all audiences to understand.
• Avoid acronyms or jargon unless you explain them.
• Speak at a moderate pace to help listeners and captioning services keep up.

Speaker notes provide additional context for the presenter and can be shared as accessible handouts for your audience.

Best Practices for Accessible Notes

• Write Clear, Concise Notes

• Use simple sentences and avoid overly complex language.
• Include important details that might not be visible on the slides.
• Describe Visual Content
• If slides contain charts, images, or complex visuals, describe their key points in the notes.
• Example: Instead of “See chart,” write “The chart shows a 25% increase in sales from Q1 to Q2.”

• Use Bullet Points
• Organize notes into bullet points for easy readability.
• Test with Assistive Technology
• Use a screen reader to ensure notes are easily navigable.

Sharing your notes can provide an inclusive experience, especially for those with hearing or cognitive impairments.

Options:

• Export Notes as a Handout:
• Go to "File" > "Print".
• Under "Settings", choose "Notes Pages".
• Save as a PDF or print for distribution.
• Share the PowerPoint File:
• Ensure your notes are accessible by testing with the built-in Accessibility Checker.
• Provide Digital Notes Separately:
• Copy notes into a Word document or text file for easier sharing.

When delivering your presentation:

• Use Presenter View:
• Presenter View allows you to see your notes on your screen while your audience only sees the slides.
• Activate Presenter View: Go to "Slide Show" > "Use Presenter View".
• Use Keyboard Shortcuts:
• Ctrl + P (Windows) or Cmd + P (Mac): Start the slideshow with Presenter View.
• N or Space: Move to the next slide.
• P or Backspace: Go to the previous slide.
• Practice with Notes:
• Rehearse your presentation using notes to ensure smooth delivery.

Before finalizing your presentation:

1. Use the Accessibility Checker:
• Go to "Review" > "Check Accessibility".
2. Test Notes with a Screen Reader:
• Ensure your notes are logical and fully navigable.

By leveraging Presenter Coach and well-structured notes, your PowerPoint presentation will be more accessible, polished, and effective.