Disability Types and Access Strategies for Virtual Meetings

Attendees with Visual Disabilities

Virtual meeting attendees with visual disabilities cannot perceive visual content or have difficulty perceiving certain aspects of it, including PowerPoint presentations. Consider the needs of blind, low-vision, and colorblind attendees.

Points to Consider

Attendees may use screen readers simultaneously
Chat features can be challenging for non-visual attendees

Accessibility Tips

Don't use color alone to convey meaning
Provide meeting materials in advance
When appropriate, indicate your location in the presentation (e.g., "On slide 7…")

Attendees with Auditory Disabilities

Attendees who are Deaf or hard of hearing require support for audio content.

Accommodations You May Need to Provide

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART): Live human captioning
ASL interpreters: Interpreter appears in a separate video window
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): Used with a dial-in number
Auto captions: Useful but not 100% accurate

Attendees with Motor Skills Disabilities

Attendees with motor skills disabilities include people with arthritis, a broken arm, and other conditions - not just wheelchair users. Presenters need to ensure full participation is possible without requiring the use of a mouse.

Be Mindful of the Following

Verify that your meeting platform is keyboard accessible (most major platforms are). Ensure any secondary software, such as a polling tool, is also keyboard compatible.
Switching between chat, polling, and other features may be difficult for some attendees.
Avoid icebreakers or team-building activities that require physical movement.

Attendees with Cognitive and Processing Differences

People experience a wide range of cognitive and processing differences, including challenges with:

Processing written or spoken information
Maintaining focus and attention
Managing sensory input
Social communication
Memory and executive function

Consider the Following

Allow questions to be submitted in advance for a facilitator to read
Avoid icebreakers and team exercises
Provide post-meeting transcripts
Recognize that large group participation can be challenging