How to Make Your Google Slides Presentation More Accessible

When you've got an accessible presentation, it means that everyone in your audience can fully engage and learn from your presentation.

For example, your audience could have people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities. So, you should do your best to make your Google Slides presentation accessible to all individuals.

This article covers using Google Slides accessibility to make an inclusive presentation.

How to Make Your Google Slides More Accessible

This tutorial uses a premium Google Slides template from Envato Elements. The template we'll use is the Delica Google Slide presentation. It’s a multipurpose template that can be used for any purpose. It comes with over 133 unique slides that come in a 16:9 screen ratio. Everything in this template is easy to edit, including the charts that come with the presentation.

You should make your Google Slides presentation accessible to people with disabilities. So, follow the tips below to create a presentation that’s more accessible for everyone.

How to Add Alt Text

Alt text is text that describes an image. It's read aloud by screen readers and used by visually impaired people. Here’s how to add alt text to an image:

1. Add an Image

You can get premium images from Envato Elements. In this Google Slides accessibility tutorial, we’ll use the Baby Panda in California USA premium image. To add a photo, click on Insert from the menu.

Then, from the menu that drops down, choose the Image option. Next, select the option that's right for you based on your image file's location.

Finally, double-click on your image, which will be added to your slide. Adjust the image as needed. It should look like this:

2. Add Alt Text

After you’ve added your image to your slide, let’s make it more accessible. First, select your image. Next, right-click on the image. From the menu that appears, choose the Alt Text option.

An Alt Text window appears when you click on the Alt Text option. The window looks like this:

3. Enter the Title

In the ALT Text window, enter the title and description of your image. Here are some quick tips to be aware of when adding alt text to your images:

• Be descriptive about what you see in the picture.


• Don’t make assumptions about what's in the image.


• Keep the description short.


• Don’t start with an “image of” or a “picture of.”


• Instead, you can use the terms headshot, illustration, chart, etc.


• Use only one or two keywords.


• Include text that’s in the image.


• Don’t repeat what’s on the page.

Use Tables for Data

When tables are used properly, they can make your Google Slides accessibility better for your presentation. Here’s how to add a table to your presentation:

1. Insert

First, clear the slide you want to use for anything you don’t need. We’ll use slide 48 for this tutorial. Second, click on the Insert tab in the menu.

From the menu that drops down, click on the Table option. When you click on this option, a window appears where you can draw your table.

2. Draw a Table

In the window that appears, drag your mouse across and down. Each square across represents a column, and each square going down represents a row.

Don't click until you’re done drawing your table. Once you've drawn your table, click to add it to your slide. You can adjust your table by dragging the thick grey lines.

3. Add Data

Remember that when you add your table, you should include a header row and/or column because it makes it easier to read your table.

To add data, click inside a cell. Then, once you see a blinking cursor, you can type. Finished, it should look like this:

Check Text Size and Alignment

Having large text that's also aligned helps people who are visually impaired. Here's how to enlarge your text and align it:

1. Change Text Size

In Google Slides the size of the text on your presentation is important. You should have no smaller than 16-point font for easy accessibility. Larger text is okay.

To change your font size, highlight the text you want to change. In the ribbon next to your font is a number with a plus and minus button next to it. The number is your current font, and the plus and minus buttons allow you to decrease and increase font size.

2. Align Text

To make your text accessible and easy to read, your text should be left aligned when possible. To align your text, highlight your text. Next, click on the Align button in the ribbon. When you click on this button, a menu appears. Choose the Left option.

Use Bulleted Lists

Bulleted lists are easy for Google Chrome screen readers to read. A screen reader can identify how many items are in a list and tell the person using the tool.

There are two types of lists that you can use:

1. numbered list


2. bulleted list

Here’s how to add both:

How to Make a Bulleted List

Follow these instructions to add a bulleted list:

1. Clear the Slide

We’ll use slide 5 to make a Google Slides accessibility bulleted list example. First, clear the slide of any unwanted elements or text.

2. Add a Text Box

You need to add a text box before you add Google Screen reader-accessible bulleted text. To do that, click on the Insert button in the menu. Next, click on the Text box option. Next, use your mouse to draw the text box.

3. Type Your Text

To type into a text box, click in the box. Once you see a blinking cursor, you can start typing. Type your text into the text box, as shown above.

4. Add Bullets

To add bullets that the Google Chrome screen reader can read, start by highlighting the text. Next, click on the Bulleted List button in the ribbon.

To choose what your bullets look like, click on the arrow next to the button.

Add Numbered Bullets

Follow these instructions to add numbered bullets to your presentation:

If you want to add numbered bullets, steps one to three are the same. After highlighting your text in the text box, click the Numbered List button in the ribbon. Here's what the numbered list looks like:

How to Add Voiceover on Google Slides

To add a voiceover in Google Slides, you must already have a voiceover file. Here’s how to add audio to Google Slides:

1. Upload Your Audio File to Google Drive

 We’ll use Voice Clip 3041 from Envato Elements for this voiceover Google Slides example.

After you've got your audio file ready, you’ll need to upload it to Google Drive. So go to Google Drive and click + New.

2. Upload File

From the menu that appears, click on the File Upload option. When you click on this, it'll open your File Finder.

Locate your file and double-click to add it. Once added, it appears in a little box in the corner. That means it's been successfully downloaded to Google Drive.

3. Insert Audio

Next, click on Insert in the menu. From the dropdown menu, choose Audio. When you select this option, a window with the audio in your Google Drive appears.  Double-click on your audio file.

4. Move Audio

After you double-click on your audio file, it'll appear on the slide that you’re on. There will be an audio symbol on your slide. You can move the audio symbol to where that you want.

Under the audio symbol, there's a Play button to play your audio.

The Best Source for Google Slides Templates (With Unlimited Use)

Envato Elements is the top source for Google Slides templates. It's a subscription service where you gain access to premium digital assets. These digital assets include premium Google Slides templates, audio, fonts, images, and more.

When you use a premium template, you start with a well-made base. Professionals make every template look impressive and stylish. But if you like to add a personal touch to your presentation, you still can. A good premium template is easily editable.

Download a Premium Template Today!

Now that you know how to make your presentation more accessible, try making an inclusive presentation for your next project. If you’re presenting to a large audience, it's helpful to have an accessible presentation.

If you make presentations a lot, save time by downloading a premium template today. Sign up for Envato Elements.