Tips on giving an accessible presentation to reach all audiences

Purple background. Maya is on the center smiling and holding a microphone. Around her there are some graphics, lights and the accessibility icon.

When giving a presentation, are you truly communicating with everyone in your audience? Imagine this: you’re at an event and can’t understand anything the speaker is saying due to microphone feedback. Or you can’t see the slides because the projector is malfunctioning. It’s not pleasant, right? Often, when discussing a topic, we create barriers that prevent many people from understanding us. Have you ever considered how people with visual or hearing disabilities follow your presentations?

Accessibility should be present everywhere and at all times, including during presentations. Beyond the presence of ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters and audio describers, who help deaf or blind people follow the content, there are other practices that can help you communicate with your diverse audiences.

With the tips we’ve provided, there’s no mistake, your presentation will reach everyone!

What to do on stage

First of all, you need to be accessible too! To achieve this, there are some actions you can take to improve the experience for your audience. Here are a few:

  • Be visible. Choose a well-lit spot so everyone can see you more clearly;
  • Describe yourself at the start of your talk, mention where you are, and give a brief description of yourself. This will help blind people or those with visual disabilities form a “picture” of who you are;
  • When showing data, consider that not everyone may be receiving the information the same way. Blind people, for example, can’t see your slide content. So, explain what you want to show. Guide people through your thought process, which aids in understanding for those with cognitive disabilities. A good presentation balances these aspects without losing rhythm;
  • Use simple words and always explain acronyms and technical terms you use. It might seem obvious to you, but it might not be to others;
  • Pay attention to your speaking pace and pause between topics. This allows people with cognitive disabilities extra time to process information, and also helps ASL interpreters with simultaneous translation.

How to prepare your content

After behavior tips, it’s time to think about your content! It might not be accessible either. So, attention to detail is crucial as small changes can make a big difference! Check out these tips:

  • Ensure slide content is in a good size to be seen by everyone in the auditorium;
  • Don’t use colors alone to highlight visual information. Projectors can be tricky – what looks good on your computer or projector might not on others. Not to mention colorblind people who can’t perceive information the same way. You can highlight information differently, such as using icons or images, different font styles, auxiliary texts, and even varying data proportions;
  • Avoid using more than one language on the same slide and overcrowding it with too much information. This can make it confusing for the audience. Remember, not everyone is fluent in multiple languages! Prepare the content in the audience’s language!
  • Include alt text for images, provide text transcripts and captions. Don’t limit yourself to verbally describing content. When publishing your slides online, various people will access them, and alt text will help them understand the images’ content;
  • Pay attention to the format in which you save your slides; assistive tools do not recognize PDF. Prefer saving them in HTML and RTF (Rich Text Format);
  • Send your material in advance to ASL interpreters and audio describers so they can prepare for the presentations, especially when they include technical terms.

When preparing for your talk, don’t forget to add these items to your list! A little extra time you dedicate can make a huge difference in the experience of those watching you. At first, it might seem complicated, but over time you’ll get the hang of it. Then, before you know it, you’ll be adopting accessible practices without even realizing it!

Do you want to learn more about accessibility and inclusion? Then be sure to check out our blog!

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