{"id":3045,"date":"2023-05-01T08:42:38","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T07:42:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disabilityawareness.training\/?p=3045"},"modified":"2023-05-01T08:42:38","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T07:42:38","slug":"top-tips-for-making-meetings-accessible-to-deaf-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.krackeddigital.co.uk\/?p=3045","title":{"rendered":"Top Tips for Making Meetings Accessible to Deaf People"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Meetings can be really tricky for D\/deaf* people especially when little or no thought has been made in terms of access. It can be a really demoralising experience attending a meeting when you\u2019re access needs aren\u2019t met, you\u2019re missing half of what is happening, and you don\u2019t feel included or able to contribute effectively. The good news is it isn\u2019t difficult to make meetings accessible for D\/deaf people with a little consideration and planning.<\/p>\n

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To make your meeting accessible to D\/deaf people it\u2019s important that you plan the meeting quite a while in advance. Firstly, don\u2019t assume that there isn\u2019t anyone D\/deaf attending. If we had a pound for every time we are told that no one has hearing loss and then at the end of a training session or meeting someone discloses to us and\/or their team that they do, we would be rich!\u00a0 There is still a stigma surrounding hearing loss and lots of people don\u2019t feel confident or comfortable telling their colleagues. Make sure you always ask whether anyone has any access requirement when scheduling a meeting. These following tips should be put into place regardless of whether or not anyone discloses.<\/p>\n

1. Check if any communication support is needed<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This could be a Sign Language interpreter or a Speech to Text Reporter for example. It\u2019s important that you ask this question as soon as the meeting is scheduled and book the communication support as quickly as possible as they tend to be very booked up. If you book someone, share your agenda and slides in advance.<\/p>\n

2. Choose a suitable location<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If it\u2019s an in-person meeting, make sure that you schedule the meeting somewhere that\u2019s well-lit and quiet without lots of background noise.<\/p>\n

3. Make sure live captions are available for virtual meetings<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It\u2019s important that your chosen meeting platform has them available and they are enabled on your account. Automatic live captions are never perfect, but they do need to be understandable overall. If necessary, consider investing in live captioning software that will integrate with your chosen meeting platform.<\/p>\n

4. Schedule in breaks<\/strong><\/h4>\n

During virtual meetings it\u2019s important that a short break is allowed every hour. In person meetings can be a little more flexible but we would suggest a break at a minimum of every 90 minutes. Consult with any communication professionals you have booked as they will have their own requirements.<\/p>\n

5. Send out an Agenda<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Send out an agenda before the meeting so everyone has clear reference points.<\/p>\n

6. Nominate someone to take notes<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In advance nominate someone to take notes so that key points and actions are recorded and shared with everyone after the meeting. Don\u2019t expect someone who is D\/deaf to do this as they will need to extra focused during the meeting.<\/p>\n

7. Set expectations<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It\u2019s important that everyone knows in advance what they should do to make the meeting more accessible.\u00a0 We often find it easier to provide this information in advance and then have a little recap at the start of the session. Points to share include:<\/p>\n