EDI Guidelines for Presenters

The purpose of these guidelines is to ensure that DAFx24 is inclusive and accessible to all participants. Recognizing the diversity in ethnicity, class, age, culture, gender, ability, and other factors, we aim to create a welcoming environment for all. Please consider the following points when preparing and delivering your presentation: 

• Clearly introduce yourself at the beginning of your presentation. 
• Address a diverse audience, considering visible and invisible identities including abilities, ethnicities, genders, geographies, nations, ethnicity, sexualities, and socio-economic statuses. 
• Focus on people rather than categories in your language. For example, avoid referring to the audience as “guys”. 
• If you need to use language that may be sensitive or controversial, be transparent and explain the context behind your terminology. 
• Use examples that reflect a range of cultural perspectives and backgrounds. 
• Ensure that statistics, demographic data, or trends presented are inclusive. Be transparent about who is included or excluded and the implications. Include information about diverse ethnic, and linguistic groups when relevant. 
• Incorporate images, graphics, and visual aids that represent people with disabilities and diverse cultural and ethnic groups. 
• Avoid culturally specific idioms that may not be understood by all audience members. 
• Ensure your presentation materials are accessible to the audience upon request. 
• Please use legible text that can be read from the back of the room, For instance, use sufficiently large font sizes (including for axes labels  on figures) and sans serif fonts as opposed to serif fonts  
• Speak directly into the microphone when available. Avoid covering your mouth when speaking. 
• Speak clearly and at a moderate pace to aid understanding. 
• If possible, ensure videos included in your presentation are captioned and have audio descriptions. 
• Avoid using flashing or flickering lights or images, as these can be harmful to individuals with photosensitive conditions. If that would involve significant changes to the material, please warn viewers in advance about the content they are about to watch.  
• If unsure about language or presentation strategies, consult the event organizer for advice. 

These guidelines were adapted from TECHNE EDI Policy (https://www.techne.ac.uk/about/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/) and aim to foster an inclusive environment where all participants can engage fully and comfortably. Thank you for your cooperation in making our event accessible to everyone.