CP 4.2 – Use the main title box as a heading

Why is this important?

Users rely on headings to interpret the structure of a page.

Without headings, screen reader users cannot easily determine the main sections of a page and will be forced to read the entire document in a linear manner.

Techniques

PowerPoint does not use semantic elements

    • In PowerPoint, all text content is added into ‘shapes’; there is no way to specify the nature of the content in these shapes, for example, to communicate that a specific box is a level two heading, therefore clarity and concision is vital in PowerPoint documents.
    • If your PowerPoint template is set up correctly, the main title box on the slide will be considered a heading and this will also be used for the slide title.

Videos

Example of bad practice

Not using the main title box on the slide for the heading.

This will result in the page title being ‘Page 1’

Example of good practice

Using the main title box on the slide for the heading.

Powerpoint slide with the text

 This will result in the page title being correct.

Powerpoint outline view showing the slide title as

References

WCAG 2.1

    • 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (A)

EN 301 549 v 2.1.2

    • 9.1.3.1 Info and Relationships

Further reading