Interview with Khaleem (ChatGPT)

QUESTION 01 Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and how your disability might impact your experience, as someone who attends live in-person and virtual events?

Hi, my name is Khaleem and I’m the third persona from the upcoming book, “The Inclusive Speaker“. I am a 25-year old Afro-Canadian male. I’m a science fiction author and columnist, and I’m legally blind. I lost most of my sight when I was young and only have a shred of light perception today. As someone who’s legally blind, my experiences at in-person and virtual events can be very different from those of individuals who are fully sighted.

One of the biggest challenges I face at in-person events is navigating physical spaces. It can be difficult to locate and access restrooms, food areas, and other amenities, and I may need assistance in finding my way around. Adequate lighting and strong contrast in physical spaces ensure that I’m able to navigate and fully participate. At virtual events, I may need to rely on my assistive technologies (screen readers and braille display) in order to access written materials or navigate virtual platforms.

Event organizers who consider the needs of all attendees by providing materials in accessible digital formats create more welcoming and inclusive environments for all. The same goes for speakers, trainers, and other communication experts when they design their presentations with accessibility in mind. This means more attendees are able to fully participate and benefit from the experience.

QUESTION 02 Thinking back on some of your experiences attending in-person or virtual events, what are some of the worst things speakers, trainers, and other communication experts can do to ruin your experience as an attendee?

As a legally blind attendee, it can be frustrating when speakers don’t adequately consider the needs of attendees with disabilities when designing their presentations. There are several ways in which this can negatively impact my experience.

For example, if materials are not provided in an accessible format, such as electronic documents with properly formatted headings and alt text for images, or very large print or even braille documents, it becomes difficult for me to fully understand and engage with the materials. Additionally, I rely heavily on verbal descriptions of what is being shown on the screen. Presenters who fail to provide verbal descriptions of images, videos, or other visual elements, can make it impossible for me to fully participate and benefit from the presentation.

It’s essential for all presenters to be aware of and consider the needs of attendees with disabilities in order to create an inclusive environment for all. When presenters don’t consider the needs of attendees like myself, or fail to describe visual elements, it make it that much harder for me to understand what’s going on.

QUESTION 03 Can you share some of the great things speakers, trainers, and other communication experts sometimes do that make a positive impact on your ability to fully enjoy your in-person or virtual event experiences?

On the other hand, there are several things that speakers and trainers can do to make a positive impact on my ability to fully enjoy in-person or virtual events. These include using clear and concise explanations and descriptive language, ensuring clear audio quality, and – you guessed it – providing verbal descriptions of visual elements.

When presenters explain complex concepts in a clear and concise manner, using language that is easy to comprehend, it requires less mental gymnastics and it helps me to better understand and engage with the content. Using descriptive language to paint a picture of what is being discussed is also helpful, as is providing verbal descriptions of visual elements. The audio quality of the presentation is also important, as is speaking at a suitable volume and pace, and using appropriate microphone techniques. All these things can help me to more easily follow along, as I don’t get to compensate with sight.

As a legally blind individual, I rely heavily on verbal cues, so presenters who provide them make a very positive impact on my ability to fully enjoy my in-person or virtual experience.

QUESTION 04 If you had one piece of advice to give speakers, trainers, and other communication experts, so their content became more inclusive of people who have disabilities, what would it be?

Another way in which speakers can help blind audience members is by providing advance notice of materials or resources that will be used during their presentation. This can be particularly beneficial for attendees like myself who rely on assistive technologies or other accommodations to fully participate in events.

By providing advance notice of materials, speakers can also allow blind audience members to request any necessary accommodations or gather any necessary assistive technology in advance. For example, if a speaker plans to use a video during their presentation, they could provide a brief written description of the video or a transcript of the audio in the video in advance. This allows blind audience members to better prepare for and engage with the content being presented. To summarize, when materials are shared ahead of time, I get a chance to prepare accordingly and to come better prepared for the event.

In addition to providing advance notice of materials, it can also be helpful for speakers to provide an overview of the structure of their presentation and any key points or takeaways that they will be discussing. This can give blind audience members a better sense of what to expect and help them to follow along more easily.

QUESTION 05 Thank you for sharing some of your insights with us today. As we wrap up our conversation, is there anything that you’d like to add, such as another thought, another piece of advice, another perspective, etc.?

Creating an inclusive environment for attendees with disabilities is an important responsibility for speaking professionals. To do this effectively, it’s essential for them to be aware of the unique challenges and needs faced by attendees with disabilities and to make an effort to accommodate these needs. It’s also important for them to be open to feedback from attendees with disabilities.

By actively seeking and considering this feedback, they can better understand the needs and experiences of their attendees, and make any necessary adjustments to improve the inclusivity of their presentations and events. When speaking professionals are aware of, and responsive to, the needs of attendees with disabilities, they can create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.