W3CWeb Accessibility initiative

WAI: Strategies, guidelines, resources to make the Web accessible to people with disabilities

Editor's Draft: $Date: 2010/03/12 23:17:50 $ [changelog]
Status: This document was an initial rough concept draft only!. The latest draft [@@final version] is at www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/training/access_pres
Please send comments to wai-eo-editors@w3.org (a publicly archived list).

[Draft] Making Your Presentations Accessible

Page Contents

[NOTE: This is an initial rough concept draft only!]

This page helps you make your presentations and training accessible to people with disabilities and others with accessibility needs. Additional benefits include making live presentations make sense to people listening to an audio recording, without the visuals you used in the original presentation.

[This page covers live, in-person training. There are additional considerations for online training, especially live virtual classroooms with multi-channel interaction. @@limit scope this way?]

Basics

Generally, remember that some of your audience may not be able to [@@see well or at all, hear well or at all, ...]

In some cases you might know the accessibility needs of participants ahead of time, for example, an internal training. Even then, something could change, for example, someone could develop accessibility needs before the training, or a new participant could join the training at the last minute. Some times you won't know, for example, presentation at a large conference where they didn't ask registrants. In any case, it's best to be prepared.

Consider accessibility in all phases of a presentation or training, including:

When your participants can't see well or at all

The following applies... as well as auditory only, visual presentation to be audio recorded, e.g., available as podcast.

Make text and important graphics big enough. @@ also video@@
... to be read, even from the back of the room.
Use an easy-to-read font face.
...
Use sufficient color contrast.
[if presenting in a light room, display dark colored text on a light colored background. Conversely, if presenting in a darkened room, ensure the background colors is dark and the text light. If using a dark background ensure the weight of text is increased (e.g. bold). techdis]
Cover all displayed text. Describe pertinent parts of graphics.
Say all of the information that is on each slide. (This does not mean that you have to read the slide exactly as it is, just that you cover the visual information in what you say.)
When graphics or other displayed information is relevant, describe them to the extent useful for understanding the presentation.
Describe other visual information
e.g., if ask question of audience, summarize responce, e.g., Speaker: "How many people make their websites fully accessible? Please raise your hand... About half raised their hand."
Offer alternative formats
for handouts and projected material. large print. braille -- Maybe can provide ahead of time electronically instead -- or via wireless on-the-spot. Do so in accessible format, e.g., provide alt for images. [@@how much to say here???]
 

When your participants can't hear well or at all

people with some hearing may use assistive listening devices (ALDs), @@aka hearing loops@@, which relies on sound input from presenters microphone

may have a sign language interpreter, or CART (Computer Aided Real–Time Captioning or Communication Access Realtime Translation), which is when someone types what is being said so people can read the text output. could be someone on-site, or remote. if remote, will need good Internet connection.

Speak clearly
and not too fast
Be visible
lip-reading - mouth in view - good lighting
Use a microphone
people using ALDs need it to go through sound system. remote CART typist will need it.
also for helpful for on-site CART typist and interpreter
Repeat audience comments into microphone
make sure everything goes through the microphone. for example, if the audience doesn't have a microphone, repeat their questions and comments into your microphone (saying that you are repeating the audience person, so it's clear that it's not your words)
Work with interpreter or CART typist
e.g., give material in advance, be available to answer questions
[explain that sign is different language so might need to discuss translation/interpretation options -- or too much detail for this doc?]

When your participants can't move well or at all
[When your participants have physical disabilities]

Provide space for wheelchairs
... @@ also restrooms, etc.
Consider activities
...

When your participants have cognitive disabilities

Speak clearly
and not too fast
Use multiple communication styles
verbal, pictures...
Provide material ahead of time
...

For More Information