How to make public speaking more accessible to blind audiences and presenters?

Working with blind speakers and engaging visually-impaired audiences have been an illuminating experience for me. Here’re 3 ways to make public speaking more accessible:

1. Decenter your experience. As sighted people, we gravitate toward using eye contact and body movement as the primary audience engagement tools. For a blind audience, focus on connecting with them by varying your pitch, volume, and also silence.
2. The most powerful visual aid is the imagery you conjure in people’s mind. Describe what you want them to SENSE, e.g. use sonorous verbs to create an action sequence.
3. Don’t let speed overtake accessibility! Providing an accessible experience means humbling ourselves to a possible course correction, unexpected challenges, and taking the time to let things unfold.

SEE ALSO:

How to create a more inclusive presentation as a project manager?

What to know when presenting to a global audience?

View more public speaking tips like this one

Own 100 Skills 100 Days