Accessibility Notes for Presenters

Preparing Your Presentation
Tara Wood covers preparing a script, designing audio/visual elements, and interacting with sign interpreters or transcriptionists in this 2-page handout, Preparing an Accessible Presentation

For additional suggestions on presentation space, handout design, digital access, and scripts, see Composing Access’s materials on Preparing Your Presentation.

During the Presentation
The more accessible your presentation, the more likely your ideas are to reach people. So give audience members alternative formats to access your materials and to engage with you during the talk.  Some may not be at the conference, so providing digital materials increases the distribution of your ideas.  Some in-person attendees may appreciate digital or paper text to augment your spoken delivery.  Some may appreciate spoken translation of images.  Some may prefer to write questions instead of voicing them.

  • Provide both large print versions (18 point) and 12 point of handouts
  • Provide both digital and paper versions as well as your in-person delivery.
  • Bring the materials to the audience. Don’t assume all can move easily to get them.
  • Describe presentation visuals. Don’t assume all can see them well.
  • For Q&A, gather questions by index cards. Don’t rely on voice only.

For more detailed suggestions, see Composing Access’s materials on During the Presentation. Thanks to the Composing Access Project, co-sponsored by the Committee on Disability Issues in College Composition (CDICC) and the Computers & Composition Digital Press (CCDP) for developing the Composing Access resource.

Accessibility Guide
A PDF version Accessibility Guide for the conference, including information about traveling to Sacramento, the Hyatt Regency, and the CWPA Statement on Accessibility can be downloaded here.