A GUIDE TO PLANNING INCLUSIVE EVENTS, SEMINARS, AND ACTIVITIES AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
K. Pollack and D. Wiener (Syracuse University Disability Cultural Center) REV. December 2018
Arrangements to make DURING the event
WHEN PRESENTING IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE
1. Time your presentation carefully in order to encourage dialogue and respect others’
presentations. Try not to rush through your presentation: rushed presentations make CART
transcription and interpretation difficult. Speak slowly, define terms, and spell out names and/or
terms.
2. Describe images, photographs, and other visual "moments" out loud, in a paced way, using
accessible language. As Ben-Moshe (2010) notes, "When adding non-text elements such as
images, charts, tables and autoshapes, they must be described.… You should describe them in
the notes pane, or else the images will be inaccessible for people using screen readers (and it will
remind you to describe them live when you present)" (slide 18).
3. If producing an art show, screening a movie, or other event that includes any highly visual
components, you may wish to use audiodescription services. Audiodescription is an elaborate
process that is accomplished by trained professionals. Contact the Office of Disability Services for
referrals to audiodescription providers.
4. While it may be common practice for presenters to read their papers, please be aware that lack
of eye contact and/or the inability to see your lips may make your presentation inaccessible to
some. Make attempts to look up throughout your presentation.
5. Try presenting with multiple modalities. Even if your preference is a reading of your work/paper,
it is helpful to support the verbal and/or signed linguistic piece with visual representations of text
(PowerPoint; using a Document Camera - a device that individuals can use to display papers or
other documents up on a screen, and zoom in and out; lecture halls and classrooms usually have
them) in rooms where CART may or may not be available). Be sure to describe visual materials,
verbally, as noted. Be sure that audio materials have visual elements and captions, as noted.
6. Ask people to introduce themselves, by name (and to spell their names), when they
communicate during a meeting or event, etc.
7. When a speaker/presenter repeats the questions asked by the audience, this can provide better
access, including for Deaf and hard of hearing folks, and individuals with different learning
approaches.
8. Adhere to the requirements and guidelines of the
Syracuse University Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility Policy, which went into effect on 1/1/18.
9. If you are presenting a study about people, the subject(s) of your study, or other people who are
part of the population you studied, may be in attendance at “your” event (e.g., Autistic people at
an autism-themed conference)! Be mindful of the ways that your own identities may influence
and affect your audience, especially if you are not a member of the group that is being
represented.
a. “Nothing About Us Without Us” remains a powerful and necessary message within the
disability rights movement -- and beyond. Events, activities, curricula, etc. “about”
disability are best organized by disabled people, or, at the very least, with nondisabled
people working in very close and ongoing collaboration with disabled people, who are
there willingly (and not as tokenized representatives).
10. Keep the approaches and purposes of your event in mind.
11. Periodically ask members of the audience if they are comfortable with the pace and volume of
your presentation.
12. Be mindful and inclusive as you negotiate sound and pitch, visual content, pace and pause time,
language usage, etc.