Show All

About accessibility for people with disabilities

Microsoft is committed to making products that are accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.

Accessibility features in PowerPoint

Many accessibility features are built right into Microsoft PowerPoint. These features are available to everyone, without the need for additional accessibility aids.

Keyboard shortcuts

Many features and commands are available directly from the keyboard. You can also view and print lists of all the shortcut keys available.

Customization options

You can customize PowerPoint to better suit your needs:

• Magnification and print options   You can zoom in on your document to make information more readable on the screen, or view slides in high contrast. If you use the Microsoft IntelliMouse or Microsoft IntelliMouse TrackBall pointing device, you can scroll and zoom directly by using the mouse instead of clicking buttons on the screen. Finally, you can print in pure black and white to increase the readability of handouts.

• Toolbar and menu options   You can customize toolbars and menu commands. For example, you might create a toolbar that contains only the buttons and menus you use most often, or group toolbar buttons and menu commands together in a way that meets your personal preference. You can even create a custom toolbar button or menu command.

Task automation features

You can automate PowerPoint to perform repetitive tasks to reduce keystrokes. Automation features allow you to do the following:

• Copy the look and style of text.
• Correct capitalization and spelling as you type.
• Format punctuation marks, symbols, and lists as you type.
• Resize text as you type to fit it into a placeholder.

Additional resources

Information on the Web

If you have access to the World Wide Web, you can learn more about the accessibility features included in Microsoft products from the Microsoft Accessibility Web site. To learn about creating accessible content for your Web pages, refer to the accessibility standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium.

Note   The hyperlinks in this topic go to the Web. You can switch back to Help at any time.

Printed information about Microsoft services

More information about Microsoft services for people with disabilities is available in an appendix in the book Discovering Microsoft Office, which comes with Microsoft Office. For example, you'll find information about how people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can contact the Microsoft Sales and Information Center or the Microsoft Support Network. You'll also find information about obtaining Microsoft documentation from Recording for the Blind, Inc., for those who have difficulty reading or handling printed documentation. The appendix also describes third-party hardware and software products that make personal computers easier to use for people with disabilities, and lists organizations to contact for more information.

System accessibility options

If you own a Microsoft Windows-based computer, you can set or change system accessibility options. Many of these options affect the way you work in Microsoft Office programs. For example, the Microsoft Windows StickyKeys feature is designed for people who have difficulty holding down two or more keys at a time. When a shortcut in an Office program requires a key combination, such as CTRL+P, StickyKeys will enable you to press one key at a time instead of pressing them simultaneously.