Reading Order & Navigation

Why reading order matters

Reading order determines the sequence in which screen readers and other assistive technologies present content to users. A logical reading order ensures that information is presented in a meaningful way, while poor reading order can make content confusing or incomprehensible.

Benefits of logical reading order

  • Information builds logically from point to point
  • Context is provided before details
  • Users can anticipate content organization
  • Information is presented in the most efficient sequence

Impact of poor reading order

  • Information presented out of context
  • Important information might be skipped
  • Explanations come before the content they explain
  • Users can't predict where focus will move next

Think like your audience

Consider how someone who can't see your slide would want to receive the information. What context do they need first? What order would make the most sense if they were listening rather than looking?

How to check reading order

Using the Reading Order Pane

The Reading Order Pane helps you check how screen readers will read the content on your slide. Here's how to use it:

  • Items are listed in the order they will be read, from top to bottom.
  • Each item shows a short description, like "Title" or "Picture", to help you know what it is.
  • Click an item in the list to select it on the slide.
  • When you select something, it gets highlighted in both the list and on the slide.
  • You can drag items up or down in the list to change the reading order. This won’t change how the slide looks.
  • You can mark decorative items so screen readers skip them.

    • Using Outline View

    Outline View shows only text content from placeholders in reading order. This is a quick way to verify that important text is accessible:

    1. Go to View → Outline View
    2. Review the text that appears
    3. If text is missing, it may be in a text box (which is not accessible)
    4. Verify the order makes logical sense

How to adjust reading order

To change the sequence:

  1. Select the object you want to move in the Reading Order Pane.
  2. Use the up and down arrows on screen to move it in the list.
  3. Drag and drop items within the pane.

Best practices

  • The title should always be first.
  • Follow a left-to-right, top-to-bottom order that matches how people read.
  • Group related items together to make one object.
  • Review the reading order again if you add more content.

Quick reading order check

✅ Quick reading order check

After making changes:

  1. Close the Reading Order Pane
  2. Click on the slide background
  3. Press Tab repeatedly to navigate through elements
  4. Verify the sequence makes logical sense