Comments on: How to make PowerPoint presentations 508c compliant.

Question: How to make PowerPoint presentations 508c compliant.

polywomp — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:09:44 -0800

Making PowerPoint presentations 508c compliant, specifically complicated charts?

I have been given a project to research and implement 508c compliance on some powerpoint files. Using the built in checker I was able to eliminate errors, but we are trying specifically to adhere to this checklist (though we are not HHS).

The problem is that I did not create these powerpoints and there are a number of very complicated charts and graphics (like, flowcharts/organizational hierarchies). I am not sure I am getting this checklist since 1.7 asks if there are graphical elements including text, as a possible fail, yet section 2 deals with graphics.

Am I going to have to re-create all of these charts as text, or is alt-text explanations enough? If I do need to re-create everything, how do you make graphical flowcharts 508c compliant in a visually focused tool like powerpoint?

By: dfriedman

dfriedman — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:24:57 -0800

More context is needed to answer this question.

What is this "508c compliance" check list supposed to do for you? Why do you need to adhere to it?

If its requirements do not comport with your presentation, then either it ought to be ignored or your presentation ought to be modified to comport with its requirements.

I don't have an answer for you regarding graphical presentation; as you say, the nature of PowerPoint is such that it provides people a tool to provide information graphically.

Bottom line: what are you trying to attempt here and why are you trying to adhere to these regulations?

By: polywomp

polywomp — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:33:08 -0800

These documents are being created for the government, so they have to comply with their 508c specifications. We don't usually work with powerpoint, or at least we haven't had to be 508c compliant with our presentations.

By: candyland

candyland — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:43:02 -0800

GSA links to Authoring Techniques for Accessible Office Documents: Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 in its 508 tutorials, and it explains how to do some of the things you need to do.