InklusivComm™
Personas (Khaleem)

Do you systematically describe visual assets presented on your slides when the information they convey supports your content? There’s no denying that visual assets, when used efficiently, can be incredibly impactful, creating long-lasting impressions on our audience members. They embellish our assets and convey critical information, oftentimes in ways that are infinitely more powerful than words. The old saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words” certainly has value, but it only applies as long as people can see said image! If you rely on imagery, graphics, and other visuals to convey important information in your slides and handouts, make it a point to always describe those assets visually, so everyone can fully benefit from the information they convey. Otherwise, if you simply refer or point to them, how is someone like Khaleem supposed to perceive them and benefit from them?

Do you systematically think ‘podcast’ when presenting key data points by describing what it is you’re pointing at on the screen? Figuring out how to describe a visual in a presentation is easier said than done. How should I do this, so it doesn’t feel forced? How many details should I provide? How much information is too much? One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given by a blind friend of mine when it comes to defining how to best describe a visual asset is to imagine presenting it to someone over the phone, or while appearing on a podcast. What words would you use to describe this important visual if you knew your audience would only be listening in? Those are the exact words that Khaleem needs to be on equal footing as anyone else in your audience who doesn’t have a vision impairment.

Do you systematically turn feedback loops into auditory experiences, by verbally describing the outcomes of room interactions? The natural tendency of audience members, when the group is asked to weigh in on a question by show of hands, is to look around the room to estimate what the outcome was. Consequently, speakers oftentimes don’t bother describing how many hands were raised, assuming everyone could determine this for themselves in the process. You can already see what the issue is. Whenever you ask your audience to raise their hand if they agree with you, ask them by show of hands if they relate to a particular situation, or invite them to take position on something, you need to verbally describe the outcome of those interactions to the entire room, so people like Khaleem can also appreciate how it panned out. Otherwise, some folks will be left out.

Do you systematically plan for alternate download formats, such as accessible PDF versions of your handouts or charts? Providing handouts and other supporting documents in your presentations is not only a great best practise to foster engagement from the audience, but also a fantastic way to leave something behind, so participants don’t forget about you once the session is over. But printed documents will only get you and your participants so far: they can easily be discarded, stained, wrinkled, damaged, or lost. Planning for downloadable assets offers many advantages over printed ones. Not only do you not have to carry them around with you, and they’re better for the environment, but they can also be made available at will, so that folks like Khaleem can also take advantage of them using their assistive technologies — if you make them fully accessible, of course!

Do you systematically provide audio-described videos or verbally describe what happens on the visual track as you show them? It’s one thing to provide captions for videos used in presentations, but captions won’t do Khaleem much good since he can’t read them! For people like Khaleem, the experience of watching videos is entirely auditory. As a result, any relevant information only conveyed visually will inevitably be missed. To make videos that are accessible to folks who have visual disabilities, on top of captions for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, an additional audio track that captures the relevant information must be provided as audio-described feedback. To determine whether your videos require audio description, watch them with your eyes closed. Any valuable content missed is what needs to be captured through that voice-over track. Alternatively, you can always describe them orally, as the videos are running.

Do you systematically avoid assuming sight by saying things like “as the graph shows,” or “as you can see here…,” because not everyone can? Have you ever been annoyed by a speaker making assumptions about what it is that you knew, or should have known, but didn’t? Using words like “obviously” or “of course” when what they were referring to was something that was anything but? If so, you understand how folks like Khaleem might feel when we use phrases like “as you can see here,” or “as this graph shows,” without following through and verbalizing what it is that they, as audience members, are supposed to be seeing. You should never assume that everyone can clearly see what you are referring to or pointing to on your slides. If it’s important enough to be presented, then it’s also important enough to be described! Never make assumptions about what others can actually perceive.

Do you systematically avoid relying on visual assets alone to create an atmosphere unless the imagery used is purely decorative in nature? Imagery can be very powerful. There’s no doubt that the right visual, used efficiently, can have dramatic effects, as well as touch the hearts and souls of audience members who see them. But visuals used in isolation can be a great source of frustration for folks who cannot see them. Just like in Khaleem’s introductory story, the feeling of hurt and rejection can be disheartening when audience members can tell that something meaningful is happening on the stage or screen but have no way to tell what’s going on. If you’re going to rely on visual props to trigger different emotions from the audience, then make sure the same emotions are also achieved by supporting those props orally, so everyone can experience them in a modality that works for them.

Do you systematically avoid asking questions like “by a show of hands…” without conveying verbally what the results of the polling were? By show of hands, how many of you have ever asked your audiences to weigh in on something…by show of hands? You know the drill. You ask a question. Audience members raise their hand if they relate or recognize themselves in what was asked. It’s a nice way to get people to engage, to weigh in, to take part. Nothing wrong with that. The problem doesn’t lie with asking the question…the problem is how it’s asked, and whether the outcome of that feedback loop is shared with those who may not be able to gauge for themselves how many people in the audience interacted. To be inclusive of people like Khaleem, always describe the outcome of the interaction with the audience so no one is left behind.

Do you systematically avoid showing a video without ensuring that the information presented on the visual track is also conveyed verbally Most people would think that only deaf or hard of hearing people need accommodations for video content, but nothing could be further from the truth! Whenever your videos show content or information that happens on the screen without being explicitly announced through words, people like Khaleem will miss on that information. And it happens a lot more often than people realize. Videos showing words on the screen that are not voiced, information only presented on the visual track and entire scenes that take place without dialogue to the sound of catchy music are all examples of videos that will leave someone like Khaleem behind. Whenever you notice these gaps in the videos you use, make it a point to fill in the blanks for your audience members who can’t see.

Do you systematically avoid defaulting to only using printed materials for workshops, activities, and other types of audience interactions You went out of your way, creating handouts that are guaranteed to make your workshop that much more engaging for everyone. That’s great! But have you given any thought as to how usable those printed copies will be to someone who has low vision and requires larger prints, or worse, someone who happens to be legally blind, like Khaleem? How useful will these handouts be if the audience member can’t read them because the fonts are too small, or because they can’t see? How do you think these folks will feel, knowing their needs were overlooked, again? Printouts are fine, if that’s what you want to do, but never settle just for printouts. Also plan for accessible, electronic copies that will be much more accommodating for those who have disabilities.