Information is often disseminated in live formats to a group of individuals, from small settings such as office meetings to larger ones such as keynote speeches and presentations. The logistics of these events, especially the larger ones, involve such components as space usage, sound, lighting, handouts and materials, and audio and visual presentations. Creating an accessible environment and advertising that the event will be fully accessible will create an inclusive atmosphere. The following strategies can help achieve that environment and atmosphere.
| Accessibility Guidelines |
- Ensure from environmental, programmatic, and attitudinal standpoints that activities are designed and facilitated in such a way that all attendees may participate
- Provide clear instructions on how attendees can request needed accommodations. Ask that attendees with disabilities identify needs they may have beforehand.
- Provide attendees with multiple formats to convey their needs to you, such as mailed and online surveys and contact email addresses and telephone numbers.
- An interpreter or interpreters are on hand. Make contact with sign language interpreter services well in advance of presentations and other events to determine how much time they will need to find sign language interpreter(s) for the event. Keep in mind that two interpreters are required for any presentation over one hour. Provide interpreters with advanced copies of materials and other relevant information (e.g., PowerPoint or other slides, handouts, acronym meanings).
- Hold meetings and presentations in accessible venues, or make the venues accessible prior to the event.
- Aspects of accessible environments include:
- Clearly marked accessible seating and open seating spaces for wheelchairs to occupy
- More open space to provide more room for maneuvering
- Wide doorways (at least 36”)
- Ramps and elevators
- Automatic doors
- Audio and visual signals (such as a chime and accompanying light on an elevator to indicate it has arrived at a floor)
- Clearly marked accessible emergency exits
- Speakers maintain a slow, steady pace to ensure interpreter and/or captioner can maintain speed.
- Videos are captioned, and real-time captioning is available for other audio communication.
- PowerPoints and other displays have large non-serif fonts and simple, non-confusing imagery. Confusing imagery may include color and shading patterns that are similar, such as light gray on light blue, and animations that involve rapidly changing lighting and coloring.
- Handouts and other shareable items are available in multiple formats upon request (e.g., paper (Braille, large print font), audio and/or data CD ROM, captioned DVD).
|
