The OWCA is committed to centering disability and accessibility in our events. For our 2024 conference, we will do the following:
- Require all presenters to provide written transcripts, slide decks, and other presentation materials to attendees.
- Hire American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for all synchronous sessions. The OWCA works with Morr Interpreting for ASL interpretation.
- Record all synchronous sessions.
- Have edited closed captions for all asynchronous and synchronous video recordings.
If we have not appropriately planned for your accessibility needs, please email the OWCA Accessibility Committee at access@onlinewritingcenters.org.
Accessibility Requirements for Presenters
The OWCA will require presenters and facilitators to share materials for their session prior to the actual conference dates. These materials are necessary to fulfill OWCA’s commitment to accessible, equitable, and inclusive interaction. The OWCA reserves the right to edit presentation materials for digital accessibility.
Asynchronous presenters will need to:
- Upload your slide deck, written transcript, and any other handouts within the emailed form. All files must be either .doc/.docx or .ppt/.pptx. This is due by MARCH 15. Once your items have been reviewed, the OWCA will respond with any requests for updates if needed.
- After your items have been approved, please record your session (maximum 10 minutes) to YouTube. Please ensure that you have included closed captions. Send the YouTube link to owca-conference@onlinewritingcenters.org. This is due by APRIL 1.
*We recommend setting your video privacy setting to “unlisted” and turning off comments and ratings. Presenters will also edit the closed captions on their video for accuracy. For assistance, please use these resources on How to make a YouTube video unlisted and How to add closed captions in YouTube.
Synchronous facilitators will need to:
- Upload your written transcript (or detailed outline) for all planned presentation portions, slide deck (if applicable), and any other handouts within the emailed form. All files must be either .doc/.docx or .ppt/.pptx. This is due by APRIL 1. Once your items have been reviewed, the OWCA will respond with any requests for updates if needed.
Accessibility Resources for Presenters
If you are presenting at the OWCA 2024 conference, please use the following resources for support.
Accessibility Guides
- OWCA 2024 Conference Accessibility Guide (Word)
- OWCA Guide to Designing Accessible Documents (Word)
- Introduction to Digital Accessibility Principles (webinar)
- OWCA Guide for Asynchronous Recorded Presentations (Word)
Example Presentation Materials
- Example Slidedeck (PowerPoint)
- Example Transcript for Individual or Panel Presentation (Word)
- Example Transcript & Handout for Workshop (Word)
- Example Presenter Transcript (Word)