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Inclusive Speaking Tip #127

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Category Inclusive Speaking Tips

Shared on Instagram and archived here, this section shares a series of tips and tricks to become a more inclusive communication professional from your platform of choice (virtual or in-person events).

If you're going to rely on printed materials during workshops, activities and other types of audience interactions, make sure to also offer alternative accessible formats. Blindness & visual disabilities
If you're going to rely on printed materials during workshops, activities and other types of audience interactions, make sure to also offer alternative accessible formats. Blindness & visual disabilities

“If you’re going to rely on printed materials during workshops, activities and other types of audience interactions, make sure to also offer alternative accessible formats.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #127
Keep in mind that poor lighting conditions can impair the audience's ability to perceive various combinations of colours and affect how they will experience your content. Colourblindness & visual disabilities
Keep in mind that poor lighting conditions can impair the audience's ability to perceive various combinations of colours and affect how they will experience your content. Colourblindness & visual disabilities

“Keep in mind that poor lighting conditions can impair the audience’s ability to perceive various combinations of colours and affect how they will experience your content.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #126
When designing your content, stay away from complex, condensed or cursive fonts that will be harder for your audience to interpret and read from a distance. Dyslexia & learning disabilities
When designing your content, stay away from complex, condensed or cursive fonts that will be harder for your audience to interpret and read from a distance. Dyslexia & learning disabilities

“When designing your content, stay away from complex, condensed or cursive fonts that will be harder for your audience to interpret and read from a distance.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #125
Avoid the use of the word 'normal' when comparing different groups, as it can stigmatize the experience of marginalized audience members and make them feel excluded. General considerations
Avoid the use of the word 'normal' when comparing different groups, as it can stigmatize the experience of marginalized audience members and make them feel excluded. General considerations

“Avoid the use of the word ‘normal’ when comparing different groups, as it can stigmatize the experience of marginalized audience members and make them feel excluded.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #124
Make sure all relevant audio goes through the audio system, and never assume the audience can hear everything that is going on, or is being said around the room. Ageing & hearing disabilities
Make sure all relevant audio goes through the audio system, and never assume the audience can hear everything that is going on, or is being said around the room. Ageing & hearing disabilities

“Make sure all relevant audio goes through the audio system, and never assume the audience can hear everything that is going on, or is being said around the room.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #123
Use plain, simple language and avoid idioms or figures of speech that could be interpreted literally and cause confusion to some people with cognitive disabilities. Autism & neurodiversity
Use plain, simple language and avoid idioms or figures of speech that could be interpreted literally and cause confusion to some people with cognitive disabilities. Autism & neurodiversity

“Use plain, simple language and avoid idioms or figures of speech that could be interpreted literally and cause confusion to some people with cognitive disabilities.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #122
Don't expect audience members to just sit still for extended periods of time and remain engaged, unless you plan for opportunities to get their blood flowing. ADHD & neurodiversity
Don't expect audience members to just sit still for extended periods of time and remain engaged, unless you plan for opportunities to get their blood flowing. ADHD & neurodiversity

“Don’t expect audience members to just sit still for extended periods of time and remain engaged, unless you plan for opportunities to get their blood flowing.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #121
Ensure that statistics, demographic data or trends presented include information about racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse groups when appropriate. General considerations
Ensure that statistics, demographic data or trends presented include information about racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse groups when appropriate. General considerations

“Ensure that statistics, demographic data or trends presented include information about racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse groups when appropriate.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #120
Avoid standing in front of direct light sources to keep your face visible so that audience members can see your expressions to increase understanding and access. Deafness & hearing disabilities
Avoid standing in front of direct light sources to keep your face visible so that audience members can see your expressions to increase understanding and access. Deafness & hearing disabilities

“Avoid standing in front of direct light sources to keep your face visible so that audience members can see your expressions to increase understanding and access.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #119
Avoid unnecessary slide transitions and animations that can trigger nausea, headaches, and dizziness for some audience members with vestibular disorders. Vestibular & seizure disorders
Avoid unnecessary slide transitions and animations that can trigger nausea, headaches, and dizziness for some audience members with vestibular disorders. Vestibular & seizure disorders

“Avoid unnecessary slide transitions and animations that can trigger nausea, headaches, and dizziness for some audience members with vestibular disorders.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #118
Don't make assumptions about what audience members can see, and avoid saying things like "as the graph shows", or "as you can see here"... because not everyone can! Blindness & visual disabilities
Don't make assumptions about what audience members can see, and avoid saying things like "as the graph shows", or "as you can see here"... because not everyone can! Blindness & visual disabilities

“Don’t make assumptions about what audience members can see, and avoid saying things like “as the graph shows”, or “as you can see here”… because not everyone can!”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #117
Steer clear of information positioned on top of cluttered or busy background images, if that background makes the text harder to perceive due to poor contrast. Colourblindness & visual disabilities
Steer clear of information positioned on top of cluttered or busy background images, if that background makes the text harder to perceive due to poor contrast. Colourblindness & visual disabilities

“Steer clear of information positioned on top of cluttered or busy background images, if that background makes the text harder to perceive due to poor contrast.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #116
Make materials available in advance to allow audience members with learning disabilities to familiarize themselves with the materials and ask any questions. Dyslexia & learning disabilities
Make materials available in advance to allow audience members with learning disabilities to familiarize themselves with the materials and ask any questions. Dyslexia & learning disabilities

“Make materials available in advance to allow audience members with learning disabilities to familiarize themselves with the materials and ask any questions.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #115
If you know the setup in advance, light-coloured text on a dark background is more audience-friendly in a darkened room, as a white background will be dazzling. General considerations
If you know the setup in advance, light-coloured text on a dark background is more audience-friendly in a darkened room, as a white background will be dazzling. General considerations

“If you know the setup in advance, light-coloured text on a dark background is more audience-friendly in a darkened room, as a white background will be dazzling.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #114
In order to be properly heard, make sure to project your voice as if you were talking to the audience members sitting in the back row, or standing in the back of the room. Ageing & hearing disabilities
In order to be properly heard, make sure to project your voice as if you were talking to the audience members sitting in the back row, or standing in the back of the room. Ageing & hearing disabilities

“In order to be properly heard, make sure to project your voice as if you were talking to the audience members sitting in the back row, or standing in the back of the room.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #113
Avoid the use of strobe lights, unusually loud sounds, or similar anxiety-inducing stimuli, to protect audience members from any kind of unnecessary stress. Anxiety disorders
Avoid the use of strobe lights, unusually loud sounds, or similar anxiety-inducing stimuli, to protect audience members from any kind of unnecessary stress. Anxiety disorders

“Avoid the use of strobe lights, unusually loud sounds, or similar anxiety-inducing stimuli, to protect audience members from any kind of unnecessary stress.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #112
Never stick to a single delivery mechanism or strategy when sharing your message with the audience, so everyone is not forced into the exact same way of learning. ADHD & neurodiversity
Never stick to a single delivery mechanism or strategy when sharing your message with the audience, so everyone is not forced into the exact same way of learning. ADHD & neurodiversity

“Never stick to a single delivery mechanism or strategy when sharing your message with the audience, so everyone is not forced into the exact same way of learning.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #111
Always write and refer to long-form handouts when the information you need to share with your audience doesn't necessarily translate well to slides. General considerations
Always write and refer to long-form handouts when the information you need to share with your audience doesn't necessarily translate well to slides. General considerations

“Always write and refer to long-form handouts when the information you need to share with your audience doesn’t necessarily translate well to slides.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #110
If presenting at an event that provides these services, send your materials to interpreters and captioners in advance so, they can research and practice unfamiliar terms. Deafness & hearing disabilities
If presenting at an event that provides these services, send your materials to interpreters and captioners in advance so, they can research and practice unfamiliar terms. Deafness & hearing disabilities

“If presenting at an event that provides these services, send your materials to interpreters and captioners in advance so, they can research and practice unfamiliar terms.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #109
Don't set your videos to auto-play by default, and avoid animations, carousel sliders, and other rapid movement assets that automatically launch on the screen. Vestibular & seizure disorders
Don't set your videos to auto-play by default, and avoid animations, carousel sliders, and other rapid movement assets that automatically launch on the screen. Vestibular & seizure disorders

“Don’t set your videos to auto-play by default, and avoid animations, carousel sliders, and other rapid movement assets that automatically launch on the screen.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #108
Quickly rehash sight gags even if feels awkward, so that some of your audience members don't have to feel bad when everybody else laughs and they don't understand why. Blindness & visual disabilities
Quickly rehash sight gags even if feels awkward, so that some of your audience members don't have to feel bad when everybody else laughs and they don't understand why. Blindness & visual disabilities

“Quickly rehash sight gags even if feels awkward, so that some of your audience members don’t have to feel bad when everybody else laughs and they don’t understand why.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #107
Always assume that your audience's ability to perceive colours will fail them when it comes to differentiating between objects that are presented in close proximity. Colourblindness & visual disabilities
Always assume that your audience's ability to perceive colours will fail them when it comes to differentiating between objects that are presented in close proximity. Colourblindness & visual disabilities

“Always assume that your audience’s ability to perceive colours will fail them when it comes to differentiating between objects that are presented in close proximity.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #106
When working with text in your materials, avoid centered, right-aligned, or fully-justified blocks of text that makes processing information that much harder for some people. Dyslexia & learning disabilities
When working with text in your materials, avoid centered, right-aligned, or fully-justified blocks of text that makes processing information that much harder for some people. Dyslexia & learning disabilities

“When working with text in your materials, avoid centered, right-aligned, or fully-justified blocks of text that makes processing information that much harder for some people.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #105
Be mindful to opt for more gender-neutral alternatives such as 'folks', 'people', or 'y'all' when addressing your audience, as opposed to using the term 'guys'. General considerations
Be mindful to opt for more gender-neutral alternatives such as 'folks', 'people', or 'y'all' when addressing your audience, as opposed to using the term 'guys'. General considerations

“Be mindful to opt for more gender-neutral alternatives such as ‘folks’, ‘people’, or ‘y’all’ when addressing your audience, as opposed to using the term ‘guys’.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #104
Always plan for a variety of alternate formats for those who require them, such as readily-available electronic or large print versions of your documents and handouts. Ageing & visual disabilities
Always plan for a variety of alternate formats for those who require them, such as readily-available electronic or large print versions of your documents and handouts. Ageing & visual disabilities

“Always plan for a variety of alternate formats for those who require them, such as readily-available electronic or large print versions of your documents and handouts.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #103
Instead of automatically forcing people into breakout rooms with random strangers, let them join rooms themselves, and be prepared to stay behind with those who won't. Anxiety disorders
Instead of automatically forcing people into breakout rooms with random strangers, let them join rooms themselves, and be prepared to stay behind with those who won't. Anxiety disorders

“Instead of automatically forcing people into breakout rooms with random strangers, let them join rooms themselves, and be prepared to stay behind with those who won’t.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #102
Diversify the ways in which your deliver your content, so audience members are not forced into a passive state where their only option is to passively listen to your lecture. ADHD & neurodiversity
Diversify the ways in which your deliver your content, so audience members are not forced into a passive state where their only option is to passively listen to your lecture. ADHD & neurodiversity

“Diversify the ways in which your deliver your content, so audience members are not forced into a passive state where their only option is to passively listen to your lecture.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #101
Make it a point to speak clearly, at a normal pace, and include pauses after presenting complex points or visual elements to allow sign language interpreters to catch up. Deafness & hearing disabilities
Make it a point to speak clearly, at a normal pace, and include pauses after presenting complex points or visual elements to allow sign language interpreters to catch up. Deafness & hearing disabilities

“Make it a point to speak clearly, at a normal pace, and include pauses after presenting complex points or visual elements to allow sign language interpreters to catch up.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #100
Use URL shorteners to make your links more memorable and maximize their readability by labeling them with one or two easy-to-remember words, rather than a random string of characters. General considerations
Use URL shorteners to make your links more memorable and maximize their readability by labeling them with one or two easy-to-remember words, rather than a random string of characters. General considerations

“Use URL shorteners to make your links more memorable and maximize their readability by labeling them with one or two easy-to-remember words, rather than a random string of characters.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #099
Never assume that your audience members will be able to fully rely on their hand-eye coordination to interact, pinpoint, or trigger targets on a screen. Vestibular & seizure disorders
Never assume that your audience members will be able to fully rely on their hand-eye coordination to interact, pinpoint, or trigger targets on a screen. Vestibular & seizure disorders

“Never assume that your audience members will be able to fully rely on their hand-eye coordination to interact, pinpoint, or trigger targets on a screen.”

More details about Inclusive Speaking Tip #098
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Are you ready to lead inclusively?

Every day, millions of employees feel unseen, unheard, and unsupported because leadership fails to recognize and address their diverse needs.

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At Inklusiv Communication, we help leaders move beyond “inclusive-ish” to champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in everything they do. By embedding inclusive leadership into your organization, you can unlock the full potential of your workforce, increase engagement, and drive long-term success.

If you’re ready to build a truly inclusive workplace where everyone thrives and can contribute to the full extent of their potential, let’s talk.

“If your definition of diversity and inclusion doesn't include catering to the needs and expectations of people with disabilities and the elderly, then you're doing it wrong.”

~ Denis Boudreau, InklusivComm

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