TASC
Conference
Guidelines
for Speakers
12-09-08
|
I.
HANDOUTS AND
RESOURCE MATERIALS |
·
Handouts. Documents useful for participants to
have in front of them in order to follow a presentation (e.g., an outline of a presentation;
PowerPoint slides; statutory language or essential definitions that are the
subject of a presentation).
·
Resource Materials. Reference materials not needed in order
to follow a presentation that participants read after attending the Conference (e.g.,
pleadings, research articles, studies). These are only provided electronically
on the Conference CD.
·
Page limit for handouts. The maximum number of pages for
handouts is 50 (25 sheets of paper printed back-to-back) for each 90-minute
workshop / 200 for each all-day Institute. This reduces the costs of providing
handouts, and gives participants less materials to pack when traveling back
home.
·
Conference CD.
Persons attending the conference receive at Registration a copy of the Conference
CD with all of the handouts and resource materials on it. To create accessible
copies of handouts, and make the Conference CDs, all handouts and resource
materials are submitted to TASC by presenters by the deadline: February 1, 2009.
|
II. ACCESSIBLE PRESENTATIONS |
We
depend on your assistance to provide a fully accessible conference for
everyone.
Visual Accessibility
for Persons who Have Low Vision or are Blind
·
Keep
lights on at all times, even when using a video.
·
Alternative formats. All handouts (anything
handed out during the conference) must be available in alternative formats; i.e.,
large print (minimum 18 pt font), Braille, and an electronic version on a CD.
o
Handouts
not available in alternative formats cannot be used during the
conference.
o
TASC
will provide your materials in alternative formats IF an electronic copy is
received by the deadline for submitting handouts: 2-01-09.
o
Anyone
bringing handouts without submitting them to TASC by the deadline must
bring: 50 standard-size copies (minimum
12 pt font), 3 large-print copies (minimum 18 pt font), a Braille copy, and electronic copies on 2 CDs.
·
Fonts. All documents,
including PowerPoints, must use a san serif font such as: Arial, Tahoma,
Verbena, Helvetica (NOT Times New Roman). The minimum font size is 12 pt for
standard-size copies, 18 pt for large print copies.
·
PowerPoints
o
Use
a sans serif fonts that is at least 22 pt.
o
A
light background with dark text is preferred.
o
Use
a plain background without any watermark, photo, or design behind the text.
o
Use
it as an outline for your presentation, using short sentences and/or bulleted
phrases (about 4 lines of text/no more than 40 words per slide). Avoid long
sentences.
o
Keep
it short. As a rule of thumb, 1 slide for every 2 minutes of speaking time.
o
Photographs,
images, clip art, graphics, maps, and charts cannot be read by screen readers.
They need an Alt text embedded in them, and/or need to be verbally described
during the presentation.
·
Videos. Only videos with
open captioning can be used.
Auditory
Accessibility for Persons who a Deaf or Hard of Hearing
·
Always
use a microphone when speaking, and ask participants to do the same.
·
Face
participants when speaking, so people who read lips can understand you.
·
Sign-language
interpreters.
o
Speak
clearly and slowly when an interpreter is present.
o
Keeps
lights on at all times, even when using a PowerPoint or a video.
o
When
conversing with someone who uses an interpreter, speak directly to the person,
not the interpreter.
Physical
Accessibility
·
Do
not re-arrange tables and chairs in the room. Rooms have been set-up to provide
maximum accessibility and seating choices for persons who use wheelchairs.
·
Do
not block doorways, and keep floors clear of personal belongings.
|
III.
Language: Use people first neutral language |
·
Don’t Use:
o
“a
disabled person”
o
“handicapped
people”
o
“retarded
persons”
o
“the
mentally ill”
·
Use:
o
“an
individual with a disability”
o
“a
person who has a cognitive disability”
o
“a
people [living] with mental illness”
Note: “Intellectual disability” is the current term
for what used to be called “mental retardation” and more recently
“developmental disability.”
|
III.
Culturally Competent
Presentations |
Culturally
competent presentations:
·
acknowledges
and accepts that cultural differences exist and have an impact on service delivery.
·
acknowledges
that, when working with different cultures, process is as important as product.
·
respects
the unique, culturally-defined needs of various client populations.
·
acknowledges
culture as a predominant force in shaping behaviors, values and institutions.
·
acknowledges
and appreciates that traditional support systems (i.e. family, community,
religious institutes, etc.) act as a primary mechanism of support for
communities of color.
·
recognizes
that the concepts of “family”, “community” etc., are different for various
cultures and even for subgroups within cultures.
·
believes
that diversity within cultures is as important as diversity between cultures.
·
functions
with the awareness that the dignity of the person is not guaranteed unless the
dignity of his/her people is preserved.
·
understands
when there may be a cultural conflict with dominant society values.
·
recognizes
that communication styles/methods may differ among various cultures, yet can be
equally effective in developing solutions to problems.
·
recognizes
that communities of color encounter unique barriers in the dominant society.
·
acknowledges
the need for cultural negotiation when interacting on a cross cultural level.
·
recognizes
that there is no such thing as a culture free interaction between individuals.