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Today we are going to talk about in person and live virtual events!
You may not have full autonomy over this if you are not the event organizer but there are still questions you can ask when being invited to speak/participate that can remind the organizers of accessibilty!
You may not have full autonomy over this if you are not the event organizer but there are still questions you can ask when being invited to speak/participate that can remind the organizers of accessibilty!
You can ask 'Will there be CART, transcription and ASL (or relevant sign language) interpretation at the event?' when you are asked to particpate/speak.
Adding this question will make you a better ally to the disabled community.
Adding this question will make you a better ally to the disabled community.
If it is an in person event asking 'is the location accessible - incl movement between rooms (if applicable), toilets & break rooms' is necessary.
You may not need them yourself but, if your goal is public communication, can you support an event that is exclusionary?
You may not need them yourself but, if your goal is public communication, can you support an event that is exclusionary?
If you are an organizer, you do have full control over these things and you need to provide. 'there's no budget' is not an excuse. If there's no budget for accessibility then there's no budget for a conference....
If you are organising an event:
- ask all participants & speakers if they have accessibilty requirements.
-ensure all conference areas (including podium/stage) and movement between areas are accessible.
-have microphones and insist everyone uses them.
- ask all participants & speakers if they have accessibilty requirements.
-ensure all conference areas (including podium/stage) and movement between areas are accessible.
-have microphones and insist everyone uses them.
-if possible have a microphone for Q&A. If not, ensure someone with a microphone repeats all questions (this may not be possible if speaker has hearing impairment, APD or similar).
-ensure good lighting (not too dark/ bright) around presenting area & area for interpreters.
-ensure good lighting (not too dark/ bright) around presenting area & area for interpreters.
-ask speakers to provide accessible materials (electronically preferably) ahead of time and distribute as needed -slides/handouts/etc..
-a good internet connect is necessary for proper accessibilty to CART/transcription of live events and access to relevant materials.
-a good internet connect is necessary for proper accessibilty to CART/transcription of live events and access to relevant materials.
As a speaker, how can you make your content more accessible?
-use different types of content- visual, written, audio
-provide an accessible document version of your content and caption (and provide a transcript if you can for any video or audio content
-use different types of content- visual, written, audio
-provide an accessible document version of your content and caption (and provide a transcript if you can for any video or audio content
- if there is important visual content in your presentation give a brief description of it as you talk about it (not necessary for decorative images)
- I should have said this earier but if you are on a panel you should give a brief visual description of yourself at the start.
- I should have said this earier but if you are on a panel you should give a brief visual description of yourself at the start.
Why the visual description?
It makes things a bit more coherent for the audience. Some people may have auditory processing issues or many other conditions which could affect their ability to process the who is who in the introductions. This clears things up.
It makes things a bit more coherent for the audience. Some people may have auditory processing issues or many other conditions which could affect their ability to process the who is who in the introductions. This clears things up.
(eg) My profile image
I'm a white woman with mid-length red wavy hair which is partially tied back with most of it brought over my shoulder. I'm wearing brown wide- rimmed glasses & a black tshirt. For virtual talks add background - my background is a green leafy hedge.
I'm a white woman with mid-length red wavy hair which is partially tied back with most of it brought over my shoulder. I'm wearing brown wide- rimmed glasses & a black tshirt. For virtual talks add background - my background is a green leafy hedge.
Another good questions is how can you make accessible documents?
Honestly this has quite a bit in, there can be many inaccessibilties around documents depending on features you do/dont use.
Step 1 is start utilising those heading options in word/google doc Title, heading 1, etc
Honestly this has quite a bit in, there can be many inaccessibilties around documents depending on features you do/dont use.
Step 1 is start utilising those heading options in word/google doc Title, heading 1, etc
Why? because screen readers cannot tell the different between headings and paragraphs unless you tell them they are different and if these aren't set as headings and subheading then the screen reader will just read on with no pause as if they were part of the same sentence.
The next step is to put in a table of contents. It makes things so much easier to navigate especially if it's a document someone may be reviewing.
On google doc/web word you can make the sections/headings in the content links so you can stop to the revelant part of the document.
On google doc/web word you can make the sections/headings in the content links so you can stop to the revelant part of the document.
A good thing with both Microsoft & Google's software is that you can turn on an accessibilty checker that'll tell you if something is off.
You can switch this on in Word by either (version dependent) going to the review tab- check accessiblility or file- info -inspect document.
You can switch this on in Word by either (version dependent) going to the review tab- check accessiblility or file- info -inspect document.
It's the same for PowerPoint.
In google, an accessibility checker is an add on you have to enable (but it is free).
In google, an accessibility checker is an add on you have to enable (but it is free).
If you are using tables either on a presentation or document writing software, that you intent to provide to particpants/students, you need to be careful as tables can really confuse screen readers if done incorrectly.
If you provide your slides/doc as a pdf, you still to make it accessible as if the original document is not accessible then the pdf won't be either.
Non-accessible pdfs many be treated as images by screen- readers or if the layout isn't clear the words may be read out of order.
Non-accessible pdfs many be treated as images by screen- readers or if the layout isn't clear the words may be read out of order.
This is a really nice webapge by university of Washington's accessible technology relating to accessible powerpoints! [webpage link] https://washington.edu/accessibility/documents/creating-accessible-presentations-in-microsoft-powerpoint/
And I know I mentioned this yesterday but I going to say it again, QR codes are a really easy way of making in person- posters, infographics or other similar material accessible! And they are super easy to set up and add!
For virtual events, many of the same points apply.
One I would like to emphasize is use a microphone (& headphones- depending on your environment). You don't have to spend a lot of money but please buy a microphone. It can make a massive difference to those with disabilities.
One I would like to emphasize is use a microphone (& headphones- depending on your environment). You don't have to spend a lot of money but please buy a microphone. It can make a massive difference to those with disabilities.
