Princeton University is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive teaching and research environment for all members of the community and general public. In this spirit, Princeton Research Day aims to provide a research showcase that is welcoming, accessible, engaging, and exciting to all participants, viewers, and attendees.
Consistent with Princeton University’s commitment, this document provides guidance and best practices for presenters. We ask all our presenters to review the following information to make their videos accessible to people with disabilities, permanent or temporary. Many of these practices will benefit all viewers, both at Princeton Research Day and in your future presentations.
Captioning
- All videos will be published on Princeton University’s Media Central platform, which will provide captioning for you. Presenters are encouraged to submit a list of vocabulary terms from their video at the time of submission to facilitate accuracy in the captioning process.
- The PRD Awards Celebration will have live captioning.
Visuals
- Select visuals carefully to enhance the presentation without introducing information that isn't covered in the narration.
- If using slides, err on the side of fewer rather than more.
- Use high-contrast colors, and do not rely on color alone to convey information.
- Limit the information on each screen or slide to what is absolutely necessary.
- Make graphics as simple as possible.
- Avoid presenting images of complex charts or tables. Highlight only the most important information.
Text
- Use an easy-to-read font that does not have serifs (these are small strokes at the ends of letters that make them more decorative, e.g., Times New Roman). The following fonts are recommended: Arial, Calibri, Helvetica, Tahoma and Verdana. Limit the lines of text on each slide to no more than four.
- Use large, easily visible headings, such as Arial 44-point bold.
- Use 28-point or larger font for body text. Simplify by using keywords, brief and concise phrases, and avoiding complete sentences.
- Avoid using italics for emphasis. Use bold instead.
- Use lists, with bullets or numbering wherever possible.
- Left justify text.
- Use plenty of vertical spacing between lines.
Narration
- Speak clearly, loudly, and slowly.
- Describe visuals for people with visual impairments, for those who are viewing on a small screen, and for those who may have difficulty understanding the visuals.
- Describe the information depicted in your visuals. Be specific about the layout and the data shown, keeping in mind that those who cannot see the visuals depend on your description to access the information they contain.
Additional Resources
Accessibility.princeton.edu has additional information on creating accessible videos and digital materials.