MS PowerPoint Chapter 8: Speaker Notes and Comments

Owned by Daniel LaGrow, created
Last updated: Apr 24, 2024
2 min read

 Instructions

Speaker Notes and Comments are accessible in PowerPoint. Here are some instructions on how to use them with a screen reader.

Section 8.1: Adding Speaker Notes

Add speaker notes in your presentation to tell a story to your audience beyond the slide content. You can use the speaker notes as private reminders of the slide content, too.

  1. To display the Notes pane, in the Normal view, press Alt+W, P, N.

  2. On the slide where you want to add notes, press F6 until you hear: "Slide notes."

  3. Type your notes.

  4. To exit the Notes pane, press F6.

Section 8.2: Reading Speaker Notes

You can hear whether a slide has notes and listen to the notes.

  1. In the Normal view, press F6 until you hear: "Thumbnails."

  2. Press the Up or Down arrow key until you hear the title or number of the slide and its position. If there are speaker notes on the slide, you hear: “Has notes.”

  3. To display the Notes pane, press the Alt + W, P, N.

  4. Press F6 until you hear “Slide notes,” and then press the SR key, R to listen to the note.

Section 8.3: Adding Comments

You can add comments on slides if you're, for example, reviewing someone else's work. If you want to comment on a specific piece of text or an object, select it first.

  1. On a slide, be sure you are in the Normal view. When you hear a piece of content you want to comment on, press Alt + R, then the C key. The Comments pane will open.

  2. Type your comment and press Control, then Enter to save it.

  3. To exit the Comments pane, press Esc.

  4. To close the Comments pane, press the Alt + R, P, P.

Section 8.4: Reading Comments

You can hear whether a slide has comments and listen to the comments.

  1. In the Normal view, press F6 until you hear: "Thumbnails."

  2. Press F6 and the Up or Down arrow key until you hear the title or slide number and its position. If there are comments on the slide, you hear: “Has comments.”

  3. To open the Comments pane, press Alt + R, P, P. You hear: “Comments on slide.” If the Comments pane is already open, press F6 or Shift+F6 until you hear: "Comments on slide."

  4. Press the SR key, then Right or Left arrow key to move through the comments. Your screen reader reads the comments as you land on them.

  5. To close the Comments pane, press Alt + R, P, P.