Shepard Symposium

Symposium Accessibility

We are committed to an open, accessible, and sustainable symposium. Please look over the accessibility features we have put in place, and contact us with any questions, concerns, and ideas for improvement. We also acknowledge that some elements of access are contextual and relational, and require the participation and cooperation of participants and presenters. Please know that we are doing our best to adapt accessibility efforts into a virtual format for our 2021 symposium.

Processing Space:

We will provide an online Zoom Room where you can go to process and talk about sessions and feelings that come up during the Symposium.

Live Streaming and Captioning:

All of the presentation events in the Central Ballroom, including the keynote talks, will be live streamed and captioned. If you are unable to attend in person, please link to the streamed events! Concurrent sessions may be live-captioned upon request. ASL interpreters may also be requested. Please contact University Disability Support Services at udss@uwyo.edu and for more information, visit their website:

Audio Description

We do not have trained audio describers, but volunteers and committee members are available to informally audio describe, and presenters are encouraged to describe all visual elements of presentations.

 

Please contact Michelle Jarman at mjarman@uwyo.edu for specific questions, or contact UDSS udss@uwyo.edu with requests.

Accessibility Guidelines and Ideas for Presenters:

  • Announce when the presentation begins and ends
  • At the start of the presentation, introduce the interpreter(s) and other service providers
  • Begin with an overview of the presentation and end with a summary of key
  • Keep the presentation clear, simple, concise, and organized
  • Clearly describe and modify any writing, reading or other activities during the presentation so people with visual, cognitive, or motor impairments can fully and equally participate
  • Verbally describe visual gestures and points of reference
  • Use simple language; avoid acronyms, jargon, and idioms (or clarify/define them)
  • Always face the audience; avoid covering your mouth when speaking
  • Use a microphone 
  • Speak clearly and at a pace that allows interpreters and/or captioners to convey information accurately
  • Make text and visuals large enough to be read from back of the room
  • Verbally describe all visual materials (e.g., slides, charts, overheads, videos) in detail
  • Ensure that any printed handouts are also available in large print
  • Use multiple communication methods for different learning styles (verbal information, pictures and diagrams, text, auditory) 
  • Provide a verbal overview of information in textual materials
  • Provide audio descriptions for all videos (i.e., describe facial expressions, body language, actions, and costumes); use captions when available
  • Instruct participants to speak one at a time, and to speak clearly into the microphone
  • During Q & A: Repeat questions posed by people in the audience if they are not using a microphone 

Prior to the Presentation:

If you want to share materials, please consider these suggestions:

  • When reading directly from text, provide an advance copy and pause slightly when interjecting information not in the text
    • Have a printed scripts, outlines, or copy of presentation available for those who want to follow along (2-5 copies); also have large print copy available (1-2)

  • Make electronic versions of materials available in plain text, rich text, or Microsoft Word (and if materials are provided in PDF format, make certain it is a readable PDF)
  • Be willing to provide materials (papers, PowerPoints, agendas, slides) in alternative formats upon request (e.g., large print, Braille, audiotapes, computer disks, DVDs)
  • Provide a written description of all images  

Please send us any materials you plan to share during the presentation prior to the conference, and we will make them available online. This will allow all conference attendees, including persons with disabilities, as well as interpreters and other support personnel, to familiarize themselves with the materials or access it in multiple formats during the conference.

 

Email materials to: shepardsymposium@uwyo.edu 

Contact Us

Co-Chairs

Christi Boggs, Ed.D. and Danielle Cover, JD

Email: ShepardSymposium@uwyo.edu

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