ACCESSIBILITY
for ONLINE SESSIONS
NCORE strives to provide equal access to all our programming and content, including NCORE Webinars and online content. All NCORE presenters are expected to follow NCORE’s Webinar Accessibility Requirements & Guidelines. Please send questions, comments, or suggestions regarding NCORE Webinar Accessibility to ncore@ou.edu.
Participant Accessibility
Enabling Closed Captioning on Zoom
All sessions will include real-time captions. To enable Closed Captioning on Zoom:
1. Click the Settings tab in the navigation panel.
2. Click the Meeting tab.
3. Verify that Closed Caption is enabled.
4. If the setting is disabled, click the toggle to enable it. If a verification dialog displays, click Turn On to verify the change.
Sign Language Interpretation
Some sessions will have sign language. In these sessions, the interpreter will be shown in a large video feed.
Breakout Sessions
Some sessions will require break out rooms for further discussion and session exercises.
Zoom only allows one captioner for every presentation. If you require Closed Captioning, please stay in or return to the main room so the Session Host can ensure you are in the correct room with the captioner.
Accessibility Information, Questions, and Concerns
Accessibility issues can be reported two ways:
1. Session Chat Box
- Click or tap Chat.
- A chat window will appear on the right if you are not in full screen or it will appear in a window you can move around the screen if you are in full screen.
- Select the “Host” from the To drop down.
- Type your message and press Enter to send it.
- A notification will appear at the bottom of your screen when you receive a chat message.
Presenter Accessibility Guidelines
PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS
Accessible presentations help all participants easily engage with content, including participants with visual impairments or participants who speak English as a second language.
POWERPOINT TEMPLATE
NCORE provides all presenters with a PowerPoint template built with recommended formatting and required slides (Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Inclusion Statement, Evaluations)
Key elements to keep in mind as you build your NCORE PowerPoint:
FONT
Use sans serif fonts (a.k.a. fonts without small lines or strokes attached to the end of their larger strokes). Good examples are Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Calibri, and Antique Olive.
All materials, including PowerPoints, must use 14pt + font size. Use bold, underlining, and “quotation marks” for words and phrases needing emphasis rather than italics, which are less visually accessible. No shadows on text!
COLOR
Font and background colors should have high contrast i.e. light font on a dark background or dark font on a light background. Never use gray. It is the least accessible color for participants with visual impairments due to its lack of contrast with every color, including white.
IMAGES
All images related to presentations (non-decorative) should have alt text provided. Alt text is a brief description of the image that can be attached in PowerPoint. For added accessibility, describe images and how they relate to the presentation during the webinar.
AUDIO / VIDEO
Report the use of loud music or flashing images, video, and/or lights during your presentation so participants with sensory issues can plan accordingly. All videos shared during webinars must be captioned.
RESOURCES
Check out the American Publishing House for the Blind’s PowerPoint for accessible formatting guidance and examples.
ACCESSIBILITY REVIEW
All NCORE presenters must submit their completed webinar PowerPoints to their presenter folder on Dropbox. NCORE Staff will review each presentation, provide accessibility notes, and confirm presentation accessibility over Dropbox.
WEBINAR GUIDELINES
Accessible presentations go beyond formatting to consider the physical and technical aspects of a webinar. Key elements for webinar presenters to consider:
- Quality internet connection
- Clear and consistent audio and video - Good lighting on face and upper body (well-lit, but not washed out) - Avoid distracting backgrounds and clothing, bright sun, and flashing lights
- Speak clearly and at a reasonable pace - Pause between topics and when you ask for questions so participants have time to process and react to information
- Describe images, video, and audio used during webinar and how they connect with your presentation
RESOURCES
For more information regarding presentation accessibility go to w3.org Presenter Requirements & Guidelines (opens in new window)
CAPTIONS
Real-time captions will be provided for all NCORE webinars so that all participants can easily engage with the content, including participants with hearing impairments and participants who speak English as a second language.
GLOSSARY ONE-SHEET
Presentations featuring specific acronyms, terms, cultural references, jargon, colloquialisms, etc. should include a quick reference guide to ensure caption accuracy in spelling and meaning.
TRANSCRIPTS
Edited transcripts will be provided to participants after each webinar, along with a captioned recording of the webinar session.
POST-WEBINAR MATERIAL ACCESS
Captioned webinar recordings, edited transcripts, PowerPoint presentations, and additional resources will be provided to participants after each webinar. Materials from FREE webinars will be provided on the NCORE Webinar Archive. Materials from paid webinars will only be provided to paid participants via private links and documents.
Please send questions, comments, or suggestions regarding NCORE Webinar Accessibility to ncore@ou.edu.