Text Styles for Accessibility

Nov 06, 2022

Hi everyone - I am working to make my Storyline projects more accessible and have some questions about what other people do.

If each slide is supposed to have one Heading 1, what do you do in the event that visually there are no headings?

For example, I have a slide that reads: "Watch this video clip . . . " It is then followed by a button that opens a new layer with a video embedded. I don't want to physically put a heading on this slide.

Do I select the words "video clip" and create a special text style that matches the font and size but label it as a Custom H1 so that it visually matches my look but gets read as a heading by a screen reader?

Do I put a legitimate heading on the slide so that it is read by a screen reader but make it 100% transparent so that it is not visible?

Thanks in advance!

2 Replies

Jose Tansengco
Staff

over 1 year ago11/07/22 at 3:08 pm (UTC)

Hello Michael,

Thanks for reaching out!

While waiting for input from the community regarding their design practices, you can check out this article on how to design accessible courses in Storyline 360:

Storyline 360: How to Design an Accessible Course

There's a section there titled 'Make Text Accessible' which you might find helpful!

Judy Nollet
Hero

over 1 year ago11/07/22 at 6:53 pm (UTC)

Here's something to consider: place the Title text box off the slide.

It will still be connected as the official slide title (e.g., in the Menu).
It'll be easy to edit (even if you just use the title for recognizing a slide during development).
During development, you'll know it's there (unlike an invisible/transparent one).

At the beginning of a project, I typically add an off-the-slide Title placeholder to the Master Blank Layout. Then it's always available when I add a new "blank" slide. And that's a good reminder to give the slide a meaningful title when the Menu will be used.

FYI: I haven't tested this with a screen reader. The off-screen title will show up in the Focus Order, though, so I'd guess this method will work for you. But I suggest you test it with one slide before doing a complete makeover.