Here are some tips from the NTID ASL & Interpreting Education Department. Thank you to Jeanne Behm, Coordinator, RADSCC for passing this along. Source: adapted from ASLIE e-Curriculum
| Do This | Don't Do This |
| Solid color shirt that contrasts with skin color |
Patterned shirt or shirt that does not |
| Solid color background that is different than shirt color | Background the same color as your shirt |
| Plain background | “Busy” background (clutter; distracting pictures or images) |
| Position camera straight across from you at eye level | Camera angle up or down |
| Light in front of you | Light above, behind, or to the side of your head. Sit in front of a window |
| Consider how others see you on the screen. Sit or stand up straight; remain in that position, ready to sign or speak and focus on the activity. | Demonstrate distracting behaviors (e.g., slouch, rest your head on your hands, sit with your feet up, lie down, fidget in your seat, eat, sleep, or smoke) |
| If possible, make sure you are alone in your recording/meeting space. | Have other people or animals in the room |
| Frame yourself showing a little above the waist to a little above the top of your head | Part of your torso is out of the frame |
| Sign within your frame | Sign outside of your frame |
|
Look at the camera and/or the area under the camera. |
Look too much to the right, left, up, down, or away from the camera for a long period |
| Mute your microphone. Only turn it on when/if you use your voice and turn it off when you are finished | Leave your microphone on so attendees can hear environmental noises. |
| Remember that ASL signers need to see each other, so leave your camera on. If you click Stop Video in Zoom, the order of participants’ windows will rearrange themselves and confuse others. If you need to leave for a moment, simply cover your webcam. |
Click Stop Video during a Zoom meeting or cover your webcam for an extended period of time (more than a minute or two), unless otherwise instructed. |
If possible, position yourself in front of a solid color background. Be aware that some cameras do not
record bright white backgrounds very well. Remove clutter and make sure there is nothing distracting
showing.
Make sure you have adequate lighting. Try to have more light in front of you than behind you.
Otherwise, your face may be badly shadowed. Household lamps may help.
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