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Connecting with Those Who Have Hearing or Cognitive Issues
You’ve crafted a fantastic presentation and you’re thinking “I’m all set”. But are you, really? Sure, you’ve thought about your average audience members, but have you given any thought to how the people in your audience with disabilities will receive that message? Remember, if you don’t reach everyone in the crowd, then you’re missing out on potential clients and income. Might not be your best move.
Becoming an inclusive speaker isn’t something that will happen overnight, but we all have to start somewhere. Reading this post is a great first step on what will probably be a long journey that you’re embarking on… good for you for taking that initial step!
The best way for you to get started with an inclusive approach to speaking and communication is to take an in-depth look at how you’re currently presenting your material and question what you take for granted. And I really do mean everything. Based on what comes out, you can make better-informed decisions as to what’s really working for everyone, and what you should (or can) improve upon.
Let’s take hearing and cognitive disabilities for example. How many of your audience members might have issues with hearing you properly? What strategies have you planned, to make sure that these folks are not left out? And what about people in the audience…
