Checking accessibility for Microsoft PowerPoint presentations – Part 2 In part 1 we discussed the PowerPoint accessibility checks for “Colour and Contrast”, “Media and Illustrations” and “Tables”. You can find part 1 here. This part focuses on document structure. Document structure Unclear hyperlink text If we paste a link into our presentation, it will get flagged under “Unclear hyperlink t...

New DES Easy Read pricing policy Easy Read is an accessible format used by lots of people who want clear and straightforward information. A growing number of organisations and businesses recognise the importance of Easy Read, and we can help! For over a decade, Disability Equality Scotland have provided a high-quality, professional Easy Read service to organisations across all sectors. Our team of...

Scottish Election 2026: What was it like to vote as a disabled person? A Scottish Election took place on 7 May 2026.  People who live in Scotland were given the opportunity to choose which candidates they wanted to represent them as Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). Being able to vote in elections is important so that Scotland works as a democratic society where everyone gets a say about ...

Checking accessibility for Microsoft PowerPoint presentations – Part 1 Have you ever finished the slides for a PowerPoint presentation and thought to yourself: “Ah! Finally done!”? But, are you really done? PowerPoint presentations are a common part of work life nowadays. Sometimes we use them to share research findings, sometimes they are part of internal or external training courses. Somet...

One day to go until the Access Panel Network Conference 2026 The countdown is almost over. Tomorrow, the Access Panel Network Conference 2026 will bring together attendees, speakers, partners for a day of discussion, collaboration, and learning around accessibility and inclusion. Whether you’re joining us in person or online, we’re excited to welcome you and share a programme packed wi...

Our joint open letter about accessible news in the UK Disability Equality Scotland organised a joint open letter to Lisa Nandy MP, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The letter is about the need for UK broadcasters to produce accessible news for people with a learning disability and anyone else who needs it. The letter was signed by 54 individuals and organisations across the UK. ...

NaviLens: The colourful accessible QR code  You might have noticed that we use QR codes with a colourful border – do you know why?  They are accessible QR codes, and they have 2 parts to their design:  A standard QR code that can be used in the usual way, normally with the camera on a phone or other small device.  A NaviLens border – you need a NaviLens app to access the QR code this way.   What N...

What is it like to live in Scotland as a Disabled Person in 2026? Earlier today, Disability Equality Scotland (DES) welcomed representatives from across the third sector and Scottish Government, in order to share our most recent report concerning the cost-of-living crisis for disabled people in Scotland. For disabled people in Scotland, in 2026, it is not just a cost-of-living crisis they face; it...

Join Us – Board Opportunity We are recruiting up to six volunteers to join the Disability Equality Scotland Board of Directors. Position: Director We are looking for up to six enthusiastic and committed volunteers to join the existing members of our Board. Our new Board members will have the skills and knowledge needed to help DES meet our strategic aims. Members of the DES Board of Directors work...

Please sign a joint letter calling for accessible news for people with a learning disability – deadline 28 May At Disability Equality Scotland (DES), we want to work with our members to highlight the need for accessible news coverage in the UK. Accessible news is designed for people with a learning disability and anyone else who needs or prefers easy to understand language. We are inviting our mem...