Presenter and Participant Information—AERA 2026 Annual Meeting
 
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2026 Annual Meeting 
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Presenter and Participant Information

AERA is committed to making the Annual Meeting welcoming and accessible for all attendees. AERA has partnered with Disability Belongs to create materials that share best practices for accessible presentations at the 2026 Annual Meeting. Check out the Accessibility and Inclusion Resources and Policies page for complete information on the accessibility features at the Annual Meeting.

Materials on Accessible Presentations

Best Accessibility Practices for Presenters, Chairs, and Attendees

Presenters, chairs, and attendees should ensure that Annual Meeting sessions and presentations are accessible for those with disabilities. Best practices include:

  1. All speakers are encouraged to provide a self-description of their appearance and dress. This helps all attendees understand who is speaking.
  2. Provide an audio description of all slides, images, i-Presentations, videos, and all other shared visual materials.
  3. Speak at a moderate rate so that the interpreters can keep pace.
  4. During free-form discussions, individuals should say their names as they begin speaking.
  5. Presenters should use sans serif fonts (such as Arial, Verdana, and Tahoma) on PowerPoint slides and i-Presentations.
  6. Use a large font size of 14 or larger.
  7. Use disability-centered language (“disability/disabled”). Avoid ableist language, such as:
    1. “Special needs”
    2. “Impaired or challenged”
    3. “Handicapped”
    4. “Differently-abled, unique abilities, special abilities”
  8. Spell out and define acronyms the first time you use them.
  9. Avoid jargon and complex terms. Sign language interpreters may need to spell these down, slowing down communication.