Overview
Headings in PowerPoint are called Titles. A title is needed on every slide in your deck. These titles help organize content in a way that allows users to quickly navigate and locate relevant information. Properly using titles ensures your digital content is structured and easy to interpret.
PowerPoint Templates
Take the guesswork out of whether your titles are accessible or not. Use the templates below with built-in Title styles that are already digitally accessible.
Download the General PowerPoint Template
Download this accessible PowerPoint template. Please use the built-in Title styles to create consistent and digitally accessible materials. Follow the best practices shown in the video below.
Download the Teaching PowerPoint Templates
If you are teaching at the College of Medicine, please download this accessible PowerPoint template that is specifically set up for teaching presentations. Please use the built-in Title styles to create consistent and digitally accessible materials. Follow the best practices shown in the video below.
Use Titles in PowerPoint
Screen reader users rely on slide titles to understand the structure of your presentation and to navigate between slides. Every slide in a PowerPoint deck needs a clear, descriptive title, even if it’s hidden.
Make Your Titles Unique and Descriptive
- Make your titles short.
- Each slide must have a unique title.
- Titles should clearly state the main idea of the slide.
- Use sequential numbering (e.g., "Part 1," "Part 2") for continuing topics.
- Hide titles off-screen for visual design and to give you more room on the page.
- Avoid generic titles, such as Slide 1, Slide 2, Chart.
Use the Built-in Title Placeholder
When you choose a slide from the Layout options, add your title in the Slide Title placeholder that comes on that slide.
- On the Home tab, access the Layout options. The screens are slightly different for Mac and Windows computers. See below.
- Go to the Home tab, then New Slide.
- Tap the Down arrow to see the Layout options. Or go to the Insert tab and New Slide.
- Tap the Down arrow to see the same Layout options as above.
On the Home Tab, go to Section Slides, and click Slide Layout.
Always use the Title placeholder options built into PowerPoint slide layouts instead of using your own fonts or styles. These title styles are already accessible.
Hidden Slide Titles
If you don’t want a slide title—keeping your layout clean and saving space for other content—use a hidden slide title to preserve accessibility: Drag your Title off the top of the slide to hide it.
Best Practices
- Use the WSU PowerPoint templates, which has accessibility built in.
- Every slide in PowerPoint needs a clear and descriptive title.
- Titles need to be unique and descriptive.
- Do not rely on bold text or larger fonts to make text appear to be a title. These changes affect appearance, not structure. Screen readers don’t recognize them as titles.
FAQ
Yes. Screen reader users rely on slide titles for navigation and structure. Every slide must have a clear, descriptive title for accessibility.
See the PowerPoint Accessibility Checker for instructions on how to fix a slide without a slide title.
Here are a few ideas to make your titles unique:
- Title 1 of 3.
- Title, Part 2.
- Title, continued (if there are only two slides on the topic).
Resources
- WSU Core Concepts: Headings.
- How to use the PowerPoint accessibility checker.
- Microsoft: Make your PowerPoint Presentations Accessible to People with Disabilities.
- Create Accessible Presentations (Video).
- Microsoft: Make your PowerPoint Presentations Accessible to People with Disabilities (Written).
Need assistance?
Contact the College of Medicine Digital Accessibility Team if you have questions or need one-on-one support or additional training.
Contact the Digital Accessibility Team