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Access Information for Presenters

It is APHA desire to make all meetings accessible to the widest range of people possible. Please pay special attention to members of the audience with disabilities. The General Sessions and APHA Special Sessions will be interpreted for the hearing impaired. The front row center right should be reserved and made accessible for those attendees with disabilities. Be aware that registrants with disabilities are to be given priority seating.

For information about accessibility services provided for registrants, visit the Access Page.   

Accessible PowerPoint
The APHA Disability Section has created the following guidelines for creating accessible PowerPoint.

  • Use the Accessible PowerPoint Template developed by the DisAbility Section Accessibility Committee.
  • Describe the content of graphic slides orally during their presentation.

  • Presenters should ensure that presentations posted on the web or sent by e-mail have sufficient text descriptions of graphs and tables used in the presentation. These descriptions will improve access to graphic slide contents when Powerpoint presentations are made.

  • Use the PowerPoint default font of 44-point bold font for headings
  • Use 32-point font or higher for bullets
  • Include no more than 6 lines of text on each slide

Presentation Handouts
If used, handouts must be available in forms that are both accessible for all participants. Presenters should bring 2 disk or CD copies of materials and handouts to provide universal access to participants, or distribute handouts to participants after the presentation via email. If presenters choose to bring large print handouts, these handouts should contain one slide per page or a minimum of 18 point font to meet the needs of persons with visual impairments who do not use electronic documents.

Reaching Participants with Vision and Hearing Impairments

  • Before you begin speaking, make sure that sign language interpreters have a copy of your presentation. Speak loudly, clearly and directly into the microphone at a moderate pace. This practice promotes understanding in the audience and allows sign language interpreters or CART transcribers time to translate what you are saying.
  • Look at your audience rather than the screen or your paper. Shift your gaze to include everyone. Keep your hands away from your mouth so that people who speech read can understand you. Use active words, short sentences. Words should reinforce visual material.
  • Describe slides briefly. Example: “This slide covers these three key points…” “This graph illustrates these key points.”
  • Avoid pointing to something on the slide and using words like “this, that, these, and those”, unless you indicate what “this” means. Example: "This map shows…" Not “This shows…” People who can’t see you pointing to a slide don’t know what “this” used alone means.
  • Always repeat all comments and questions into the microphone.
  • Videos used in presentations should be captioned if possible.
  • Ensure that only one person speaks at a time by asking members of the group to wait until they are acknowledged before commenting or asking questions.

Interpreters
If you require a sign language interpreter, please submit an ASL Request Form (PDF). If you have any questions please contact access@apha.org.

  • Do not walk in front of interpreters while they are signing.   
  • Slow your speaking rate if you tend to be a rapid speaker and slow your pace when reading any printed material.  
  • Let interpreters know if you are willing to be stopped during your presentation if they need clarification.   
  • When you address a person using an interpreter, speak directly to the person, not the interpreter.   
  • Spell unusual terms, names and foreign words.
  • When using visuals allow extra time for the audience to look at the items after you discuss them. People using interpreters cannot examine items when they are watching the interpreter.   
  • When possible, please offer the interpreters advance copies of your speech, notes, handouts or overheads so they can become familiar with terms you will be using. This makes for more accurate facilitation of the information.
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