38th Annual CSUN Assistive Technology Conference Has Concluded
Presenters
Presentation Information
The 2023 CSUN AT Conference at the Anaheim Marriott in California, March 13-17, 2023. Pre-Conference Workshops will take place on March 13. The Keynote Address will kick off the conference the morning of Tuesday, March 14 and conference sessions will be March 14-17.
Presentation Rooms
All session rooms are set up and equipped in the same way. All presentation rooms are set theater-style (chairs only) with a head table and two (2) chairs for presenters. (There are no panels.)
All presentation rooms are equipped with the following:
- Windows PC (Capable of DVD playback)
- Ethernet Connection
- Projection Screen
- Wide-Screen Color Digital Projector (16:10, 1280 x 800) with VGA & HDMI connections
- One Wired Lavaliere Microphone
- One Wired Hand-Held Microphone
- PC-to-Mixer (1/8", 3.5mm mini-jack) Audio Connection
No other equipment will be provided or may be requested. If additional equipment is required, it is the responsibility of the presenter to provide it. All additional equipment must be able to fit on a 30-inch by 24-inch tabletop.
If changes are made to the presentation room, please return the room to the original set-up prior to leaving. The CSUN AT Conference is not responsible for any devices, cables, or other equipment left behind by presenters.
Presentation Slides
For the benefit of attendees, a repository of links to presentations for the 2023 conference will be made available to the public prior to and following the conference. Sharing presentation slides is voluntary and not a requirement to present at the conference. Prior to the conference, presenters will receive instructions on how to submit the link to their presentation. It is recommended that a service such as Apple iCloud, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive be used to host your presentation and create a shareable link.
We strongly urge you to make your presentation accessible so the content may be available to anyone. Please see the Preparing Your Presentation section under Tips for resources on this topic.
The Center on Disabilities will confirm content linked is relevant to your presentation but will not review content for accessibility and/or attempt to remediate any accessibility issues.
Presentation Tips
Planning Your Presentation
Get organized
Before you begin, outline your thoughts and organize the natural flow, consider your audience, and research and collect supporting documents. You have already submitted your proposal, which included your session description and objectives. Think about your goals and as you create your presentation, make sure you are meeting those objectives.
Know who your intended audience is and who else might be your audience
Sometimes these are the same and sometimes they aren't. As you design your presentation, be sure to communicate how the information can be relevant across a spectrum of attendees. Successful sessions transcend fields, industries, and professional roles.
Time yourself
Practice and fine-tune your presentation. Sessions are a total of 40 minutes in length and the schedule cannot accommodate sessions extending beyond 40 minutes. If you want time for questions and answers, build that time into your presentation. Be aware that your home or office is a controlled environment and that real-time at the conference can move faster, so add a few minutes as a buffer.
Think about the types of questions you may receive
Consider having someone else review your presentation and pose any questions they may have. Think through your responses and any additional resources, and either incorporate them into your presentation or have them handy to share.
Preparing Your Presentation
Ensure your slides, media, handouts, and everything else are accessible.
W3c WAI has an information page, How to Make Your Presentations Accessible to All, that provides tips and instructions on making materials, slides and overall presentations accessible. This is a great resource to use, so check it out to make your session inclusive to your audience.
You may also find these articles helpful:
- Microsoft: Make your PowerPoint presentations accessible to people with disabilities
- Adobe PDF Accessibility Overview
- Apple: Create accessible documents, spreadsheets, or presentations with Pages, Numbers, or Keynote
- Prezi: Creating accessible content in Prezi Design
Have the equipment you need
Session rooms at the CSUN Conference are equipped with a laptop, widescreen projector (with VGA and HDMI), widescreen (16:9) projection screen, microphone, mini-jack (1/8" stereo jack) audio patch, and sound mixer and speakers. You can download your slides via USB when using the provided laptop. Have a backup plan, and have your presentation available via multiple sources in the event one does not work as planned.
If you plan to bring another device, such as a tablet, iPad, laptop, or anything else, make sure you bring compatible cables, dongles, or other needed equipment. The CSUN Conference does not have additional equipment available for use.
Delivering Your Presentation
Know where your session room is
Look at the Conference schedule and map to locate your session room, so you know where you are going. You may want to visit the room ahead of time to familiarize yourself with the layout.
Arrive early to set-up
Please be considerate of the presenters before you by entering the room once that session has concluded. There is a 20-minute gap between sessions, and you should use this time to set up and be ready to start your session at your scheduled time.
If you use your equipment, be sure to take it with you when you are finished. Additionally, reconnect the CSUN Conference-provided equipment to its previous set-up to allow a swift transition to the presenters following your session.
Have a way to track your time
If you have co-presenters, designate someone to keep track of time. Be sure to select someone who will not be presenting at the end so they can focus on the time. If you are the sole presenter, determine a method to best receive reminders to check the time, such as cues in your slides or an alarm.
Ensure you are presenting in a way that is accessible to your audience
Your audience will be diverse and your presentation should accommodate everyone in attendance. If you include videos, make sure the audio is clear and describes what is happening. If you have photos or images, describe what is being displayed and explain their relevance. Say all the information covered on each slide and do not expect your audience to read it on their own. Be aware that there may be sign-language interpreters, live captioning, and attendees using assistive listening devices, so speak clearly, use the microphone, and pause between topics.
Sharing information
Many attendees want to reach out to presenters after the session with questions or to simply connect. The CSUN Conference does not share private information, so if you would like attendees to connect with you, be sure to share an email address or any other contact method during your session. Don't forget to share your contact information verbally.
Making your presentation available
If you don't share your slides ahead of the Conference, there will be an opportunity to submit a link after the Conference. The deadline to submit the link is April 1, 2022. If you share your slides, either before or after the Conference, let your audience know they can access them through a link in the session details on the Conference website.