Symposium Accessibility

We are committed to an open, accessible, and sustainable symposium. Please look over the accessibility features we have put in place, and contact us with any questions, concerns, and ideas for improvement. You can reach us at shepardsymposium@gmail.com . We also acknowledge that some elements of access are contextual and relational, and require the participation and cooperation of participants and presenters. Please know that we are doing our best to adapt accessibility efforts into a hybrid format for our 2022 symposium. Please register in advance at this Google Form for the conference to help us know about access needs.

In-PERSON ACCESS

Please visit the Location & Travel page for information regarding parking and transportation.
For campus accessibility, please go to this interactive campus map.

Shepard events will be held at the following locations:

The Union - please click here for accessibility information
The UW Art Museum - please click here for accessibility information
The Marian Rochelle Gateway Center - all doors have power buttons and no steps. There are accessible bathrooms on the main floor and elevator access to the second floor. There is accessible parking located in the War Memorial Stadium parking lot
The Laramie Plains Civic Center - there is a ramp to the building on the east side of the building. The Gryphon Theater has ramps and accessible seating. The bathrooms do meet code but may still be difficult to access. Please click here to contact the building owners for additional accessibility information

Virtual Access

Most sessions will be live-streamed on Zoom. If you plan to attend sessions virtually, please let us know when you register. Please know that if you wish to attend sessions virtually you will need to utilize Zoom. Zoom is free to use and has many great resources [https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us] for learning more about how to navigate using it, from changing your screen name, to bandwidth issues, to utilizing live transcription, and more. If you are experiencing internet and connection issues, consider turning off your video to save bandwidth. For additional challenges during session times, please see the linked document below or reach out to the Shepard Symposium email: shepardsymposium@gmail.com

Click here for additional zoom resources

community reflection and resources

Shepard symposium covers many social justice topics, so it is natural if emotions and feelings arise during sessions. As a community, we need to process these conversations and reflect together. We will provide a variety of different resources as a way to offer processing and reflection, a break from sessions, or a chance to connect with fellow Symposium attendees and chat. These resources will be in the form of the linked content below and an opportunity to enter into a room in the Union, where most events take place, with another person there who is willing to talk and listen. This person will NOT be a certified mental health professional and will not be offering professional advice. However, the linked resources below can be used to connect you with mental health professionals and help if needed.

Click here for community and mental health resources

livestreaming recording and Captioning

All zoom sessions and talks will be auto-captioned. Keynotes will have live-captioning provided by transcriptionists as well as ASL interpreters, and additional sessions may be live-captioned in this way upon request. Please know zoom offers an AI live transcription feature that we will offer as a baseline at every session (except for breakouts, as the AI transcription is not supported there). ASL interpreters may also be requested, and will be provided at all keynotes and awards. There will be an ASL interpreter at Dr. Rachel Edelman's presentation on Thursday, April 21st. If you need accessibility support during the symposium, please go to the registration desk and speak to a volunteer.

Please contact University Disability Support Services at udss@uwyo.edu and for more information, or visit their website: http://www.uwyo.edu/udss/accommodations-and-services/request-services.html. We will be recording several, but not all, sessions. These will be available to view after the symposium.

Audio Description

We do not have trained audio describers, but volunteers and committee members are available to informally audio describe. Please register in advanced at this Google Form for the conference to let us know about access needs. Presenters are encouraged to describe all visual elements of presentations.

Please contact UDSS udss@uwyo.edu with requests.

Accessibility Guidelines and Ideas for Presenters:

Announce when the presentation begins and ends
At the start of the presentation, introduce the interpreter(s) and other service providers
Begin with an overview of the presentation and end with a summary of key points
Keep the presentation clear, simple, concise, and organized
Clearly describe and modify any writing, reading or other activities during the presentation so people with visual, cognitive, or motor impairments can fully and equally participate
Verbally describe visual gestures and points of reference
Use simple language; avoid acronyms, jargon, and idioms (or clarify/define them)
Always face the audience; avoid covering your mouth when speaking
Try to ensure your microphone is picking up your voice well. Consider using a headphone with a built-in microphone to help with this
Speak clearly and at a pace that allows interpreters and/or captioners and/or AI live transcription to convey information accurately
Make text and visuals large enough to be read. We suggest starting at a minimum size 20 font. Make sure there is good contrast color between presentation background and text.
For presentations with a large amount of text, please consider linking a digital copy in the chat feature when starting the zoom session.
Verbally describe all visual materials (e.g., slides, charts, overheads, videos) in detail. Please ensure that images in google slide presentations and PowerPoint have alt text
Use multiple communication methods for different learning styles (verbal information, pictures and diagrams, text, auditory)
Provide a verbal overview of information in textual materials
Provide audio descriptions for all videos (i.e., describe facial expressions, body language, actions, and costumes); use captions on videos when available
Instruct participants to speak one at a time, and to speak clearly
During Q & A: Repeat questions posed by people in the audience to ensure they are heard
Consider putting information into the chat over zoom (if applicable), so participants can interact with information in another modality or open additional links on their computers
Zoom cannot provide live transcription for breakout rooms. If you plan to use this feature, please let us know at shepardsymposium@gmail.com

Prior to the Presentation: If you want to share materials, please consider these suggestions:

When reading directly from text, provide an advanced digital copy and pause slightly when interjecting information not in the text

Make electronic versions of materials available in plain text, rich text, or Microsoft Word (and if materials are provided in PDF format, make certain it is a readable PDF)
Be willing to provide materials (papers, PowerPoints, agendas, slides) in alternative formats upon request (e.g., large print, Braille, audiotapes, computer disks, DVDs)
Provide a written description of all images

Please send us any materials you plan to share during the presentation prior to the conference, and we will make them available online. This will allow all conference attendees, including persons with disabilities, as well as interpreters and other support personnel, to familiarize themselves with the materials or access it in multiple formats during the conference.

Email materials to: shepardsymposium@gmail.com