[NFB-Lions] Accessibility Features Of Zoom And How To Make Zoom Meetings More Accessible

[David Andrews]

Somebody on this list, contacted me privately 
about problems getting into your Zoom meetings. 
Maybe this will help her or him?

Dave





>Accessibility Blog - Monday, June 26, 2023, 9:04 AM
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>Accessibility Features Of Zoom And How To Make Zoom Meetings More Accessible
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>With the increasing remote working trends in 
>today’s digital age, virtual meetings have 
>become integral to business and social 
>communication. For people with disabilities, 
>these virtual meetings on digital platforms can 
>sometimes pose accessibility challenges.
>
>According to the World Health Organization 
>(WHO), 
><https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health>an 
>estimated 16% of the world's population lives 
>with some form of disability, making it crucial 
>to provide more user-friendly solutions. So, 
>join us as we dive into the accessibility 
>features and challenges of some leading digital 
>platforms, starting with Zoom. Through a series 
>of informative guides, we will explore how these 
>companies work to make their websites more accessible to all users.
>
>In this guide, we will look at Zoom's 
>accessibility features and share tips on how to 
>make your Zoom meetings more accessible.
>
>
>Zoom’s Commitment to Accessibility
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>Zoom has become a popular tool for remote work, 
>online classes, and virtual hangouts. But have 
>you ever wondered if all of its features provide 
>equal access to everyone? The good news is that 
>this virtual meeting software is committed to 
>making its platform inclusive for all users.
>
>The company states on its 
><https://explore.zoom.us/en/accessibility/>accessibility 
>page: “Accessibility is at the heart of what 
>we do.” It describes its commitment to 
>accessibility: “Zoom puts users front and 
>center, driving inclusivity for everyone. We 
>listen to our customers and continually seek 
>ways to build the best, most accessible communications experience.”
>
>
>Zoom Feature Accessibility: A Closer Look
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>Zoom has a variety of features that make it easy 
>for people with disabilities to participate 
>fully in online meetings, including:
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>Closed Captioning
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>Zoom offers closed captioning for meetings, 
>which is incredibly helpful for people with 
>hearing impairment. The captioning can be 
>automated or done by a live captioner, depending 
>on your needs. You can adjust the size of the 
>closed captioning text to make it easier to read.
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>Keyboard Shortcuts
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>It also has keyboard shortcuts that can be used 
>instead of a mouse, making it more accessible 
>for people with motor disabilities. And for 
>people with visual impairments, Zoom has screen 
>reader support and the ability to adjust font sizes and colors.
>
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>Virtual Background
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>One cool feature is Zoom's virtual background 
>option, which can be helpful for people who have 
>visual distractions in their environment or who 
>just want a little extra privacy.
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>Screen Reader Support
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>Zoom is compatible with popular screen readers 
>such as VoiceOver, NVDA, and JAWS, allowing 
>visually impaired users to participate in meetings.
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>High Contrast Mode
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>Users can switch to high contrast mode, making 
>the interface easier for people with low vision or color blindness.
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>Focus Mode
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>This feature allows the user to pin the video of 
>the speaker they want to focus on, making it 
>easier to follow along with the conversation. 
>Blurring the video background helps minimize 
>visual distractions during meetings and makes it 
>easier to focus on the speaker.
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>Audio Transcription
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>Besides closed captioning, Zoom offers an audio 
>transcription feature that creates a real-time 
>written transcript of the meeting.
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>Voicemail Transcription
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>This feature automatically transcribes voicemail 
>messages into text format, making it easier for 
>users who are deaf or hard of hearing to access 
>and understand voicemail messages.
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>Text Formatting
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>There’s an option to format text in the chat 
>feature, making reading messages easier for users with visual impairments.
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>Dark Mode
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>This feature changes the background of Zoom's 
>interface to black, which can be helpful for 
>users with visual impairments or sensitivity to bright light.
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>Host Can Mute/Unmute Participants (With Consent)
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>This feature allows the host of a meeting to 
>mute and unmute participants' audio, which can 
>be helpful for users with hearing impairments or 
>to minimize background noise during a meeting.
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>Tips To Make Zoom Meetings More Accessible
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>Making sure that virtual meetings are as 
>inclusive as possible is important, especially 
>as more and more people are now using them to 
>connect. Zoom is a great tool that can bring 
>people together, but it's important to keep 
>accessibility in mind. Here are some tips and 
>tricks for ensuring everyone can easily participate in Zoom meetings.
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>Use Closed Captioning
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>Provide closed captioning for all meetings so 
>that participants with hearing impairments can follow along.
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>Share Materials In Advance
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>Send materials like agendas and presentation 
>slides to participants in advance to give them more time to review and prepare.
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>Use A Clear Background
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>A clear and uncluttered background helps 
>participants focus on what's being said and 
>makes it easier for people with visual impairments to follow along.
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>Use A Microphone
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>Use a high-quality microphone to ensure everyone 
>can hear you clearly, and encourage them to use a microphone.
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>Allow For Breaks
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>Take regular breaks to give participants time to 
>stretch, rest their eyes, and take a break from their screens.
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>Use Plain Language
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>Use plain language when speaking or presenting. 
>In other words, avoid technical jargon or 
>complex language (as much as possible) that can 
>be difficult for some participants to understand.
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>Provide Alternative Formats
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>When sharing visual materials during a Zoom 
>meeting, provide alternative formats to ensure 
>accessibility for those with visual impairments. 
>This could include providing audio descriptions 
>of images, videos, or text transcripts of any written content.
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>Spotlight the ASL Interpreters
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>When recording a Zoom video session with an ASL 
>interpreter, don't forget to use the "Spotlight" 
>feature so the ASL is captured. Only meeting 
>hosts can access this feature. It will ensure 
>that the interpreter's video is the main focus 
>during the recording, making it easier for 
>individuals who rely on ASL to access the content later.
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>Share Keyboard Shortcuts
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>Before a meeting, share the Zoom Keyboard 
>Shortcuts with participants, especially those 
>using keyboard-only navigation or assistive 
>technology. This will help in case the mouse suddenly stops working.
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>Zooming In on Accessibility: Enhancing the Meeting Experience for All
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>Zoom has made significant strides in offering 
>accessibility features that cater to users with 
>different types of disabilities. From closed 
>captioning and keyboard shortcuts to virtual 
>backgrounds and advanced screen reader 
>capabilities, many tools are available to help 
>make Zoom meetings barrier-free for everyone.
>
>These features are only a starting point; we can 
>always do more to make online conferences truly 
>convenient for everyone. By implementing the 
>tips discussed in this guide, we can all work 
>towards creating a more welcoming virtual environment for all participants.
>
><https://www.accessibility.com/blog/accessibility-features-of-zoom-and-how-to-make-zoom-meetings-more-accessible>https://www.accessibility.com/blog/accessibility-features-of-zoom-and-how-to-make-zoom-meetings-more-accessible
>
>
>      David Goldfield
>Assistive Technology Specialist