Disability:IN, the global non-profit advancing disability inclusion and equality in business, recommends providing visual descriptions as a corporate best practice. Visual descriptions are an opportunity for the speaker to introduce a few salient points about themselves, which can include physical characteristics and how they identify (race, gender, sexual orientation, or otherwise).
This best practice ensures people who are blind or low vision, or even people participating by phone or otherwise without a screen (i.e., people driving), all get an opportunity to meaningfully participate. When presenters choose to offer a visual description of themselves, it not only paints a picture for the audience, but also offers an additional way to connect, relate, and understand their perspectives.
To support this, Disability:IN published the resource “Creating Accessible Digital Zoom Meetings” which goes into further detail on how business can incorporate this best practice. This is all part of our effort to promote the full inclusion of people with disabilities, inspire accessible innovation for all, and to foster cultures of inclusion.
