Accessibility

The Inclusion Institute team strives to ensure that both the in-person and virtual spaces and presentations are inclusive and accessible for everyone to participate fully.

Why is accessibility important?

People with disabilities face barriers in accessing information and participating fully in the community and professionally. As a conference that is committed to inclusion and belongingness, every speaker should plan ahead to ensure that participants in their session can access and understand the content and information.

Speaker requirements

Ensuring accessibility and full inclusion should be everybody’s responsibility. Speakers at the institute are asked to consider the following:

Make materials accessible by:

  1. Uploading accessible PDF of slide deck and any handouts on Sched a week before the institute (By May 1, 2024). It is important for these to be up on the app for participants who may need to review in advance.
  2. If relevant, bring print copies of any visuals used
  3. Bring along a large print (18pt font) of your handout

Make presentation accessible by:

  1. (BEFORE the session) Conducting an accessibility check of your slide deck: You may use the guide to creating accessible slides.
  2. (BEFORE the session) Turning on the captioning option in PowerPoint. Go to Slide Show and click on “Always Use Subtitles” and Select “Below Slide” under Subtitle Settings.
  3. (DURING the session) Using a microphone if presenting in-person. If a participant speaks without a microphone, repeat what was said into the microphone.
  4. (DURING the session) Limiting the use of acronyms. If they are used, spell them out frequently. Describe images, charts, and graphs used and their relevance to the presentation
  5. (DURING the session) Speaking slowly and clearly

While the Inclusion Institute team will not be checking all presentations and materials for accessibility, we will provide the following support to speakers:

  1. Reminder emails about accessibility and materials submission
  2. On-site reminders about ensuring accessibility during sessions
  3. Additional support with checking or developing accessible handouts and slide decks (Please send request by April 15, 2024)

Adapted from: AUCD 2023 conference presenter requirements: accessibility and inclusion

International Early Childhood Inclusion Institute