Editors Draft: 11 January 2010 [changelog] $Date: 2010/03/08 08:57:50 $ by $Author: andrew $
Status: This document is an in-progress Editor's Draft revision. [The existing published version is at <http://www.w3.org/WAI/training/Overview.html>.] Please send comments to wai-eo-editors@w3.org (a publicly archived list).

NOTE: This page is subject to considerable change to reflect tips that are "specifically for web accessibility presentations" - as a result it may be absorbed into the Overview. It may alternatively reflect some of the previous tips from experienced presenters. (15/Jan/2010)

[Draft] Tips for Web Accessibility Presentations and Training

Introduction

This page contains tips to assist you prepare and deliver web accessibility presentations and training. It includes considerations about the audience you will be presenting to, things to consider before and during the presentation, and follow-up suggestions for after the session.

Audience Background

This section is designed to assist you to understand your audience in advance of preparing your presentation or training session. What is the audience background? If you've been invited to speak, what are your host's objectives?

Consideration of the audience needs - questions to ask in advance:
- How familiar is the audience with web accessibility?
- What kind of background does the audience have? Technical/policy/business?
- What will the audience need to do with this information?
- Are there opportunities to get materials to the audience in advance, or online during the session?
- Will there be opportunities for follow up?
- Other??
Establish learning objectives with the presentation/training host (if appropriate)

Preparation of Presentation and Training Sessions

If you are experienced with web accessibility and the use of the Web by people with disabilities or older people, then it is this experience that you are imparting in addition to the technical information that might be the topic of your presentation. The information below might help you with some of the thinking processes as well as a partial checklist for logistical organization.

Select topics to cover
- What are the needs of your audience
- Consider the sample topics and sample presentation scenarios
- Read the tips from other presenters (to spark ideas & messaging)
  [NB. this might be dropped unless/until we can update it]
Consider online or off-line presentation modes
- Online presentations allow the presenter to demonstrate more Web sites and W3C/WAI resources than do off-line presentations
- Online access can be unreliable for presentations; offline is less prone to trouble. Downloading materials in advance allows the presenter to run demonstrations locally if necessary
- Some hosts will not allow access to the Web from your own laptop via their LAN
Arrange equipment and software
- Presentation on a memory stick vs your own laptop
- Resolution of LCD projector (try and test beforehand top ensure it works with your laptop)
- Availability of assistive technology for demo (advantage of own laptop)
- Internet connection for online video and demonstrations
- Setup of hands-on computer lab (if required)
Consider accessibility needs of audience
- Will there be any deaf or hard of hearing participants?
  - Will you or the host arrange for sign language interpreters if required?
- Will there be any blind or low vision participants?
  - Will you or the host arrange for presentation materials in accessible formats in advance?
- Can any participants with physical access needs access the venue?
- Do any participants have dietary requirements?
Handouts
- What would be appropriate as take-away materials?
  - Notes from your presentation/workshop?
  - List of reference materials?
  - WAI handouts or flyers?
- Will you take them with you OR will they be printed by host and be available on the day?
- Is there a need for accessible formats (Braille, large print, electronic)?

During the Presentation or Training Session

This section contains some practical advice for the session itself, as well as linking to WAI's advice for presenters.

At the start introduce yourself and your interest/background with web accessibility as perspective for the session
- If a small heterogeneous group, get each participant to briefly introduce themselves
Be aware of people who may be unable to see or hear the presentation - see WAI's Advice for Presenters
Decide beforehand if you will accept questions, or just clarifications, during the presentation, and advise the audience
If appropriate, provide handouts before or after your presentation
- Copies of the presentation beforehand allows the audience to take notes
- Other material may be better distributed afterwards so as not to distract the audience

After the Presentation or Training Session

Are there opportunities to follow-up with your audience or host? What can you learn from the experience?

As appropriate:
- Provide contact details so that participants can follow-up with you for additional clarifications
- homework/assessment
- resources - referring to additional materials
Consider what you might have learnt from participants for your own work or future presentations
Reflect on the presentation or training session with respect to what went well and what improvements might be possible

Tips from others

Previous TIPS page
Experiential sessions are valuable: “Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.” ~Chinese Proverb
- Ideas for experiential session ... e.g. mouse removed, mittens or gardening gloves, v.fast mouse pointer, onscreen keybd - no physical kbd, smeared glasses, maximum browser zoom, no sound, etc and include a news site, a multimedia site, and a form to complete.
- Some of the exercises from WGBH's Misunderstood Minds and the WebAIM Simulations are also worthwhile.
Statistical activity from Sharron: "Ask everyone who would like to live to the age of 80 or beyond to stand or raise hand. Then ask those with a birthday before Jan 30 to sit down. Those are the number born with a disability. Ask those with a birthday in Feb or March to sit down/lower hand. Those are disabilities acquired by age 23. Repeat with April - June (equivalent to numbers of people who acquire disability by age 50. July - September (age 60). Then have people sit by month announcing decade. October (70) November to Dec 15 (80) Look around the room. Those still standing are approximately equivalent to the number of people who will make it past the age of 80 without acquiring a disability that will impact their ability to use the Web. Accessibility benefits all of us who live long enough."
In hands-on workshops "I try to avoid having a whole session at the computer because people usually start checking their mailboxes" (MS)
Other activities and engagement ideas from Sharron

[Previous Page - Examples (Draft) | Top of Page

Site Navigation