Zoom Meetings: Host Perspective---Deaf Tips: Before: Consider Stakeholders, Communication Agreement, Recording Benefits

Consider Stakeholders and their Needs

 This model recognizes all involved as partners: we understand that each of us has different communication styles and language modalities. We take this into consideration when communicating together. This InfoGuide provides tips for working together as individuals with different language modalities: ie, signing, tactile signing, speaking, and hearing. This includes DHH, DB, those with learning differences, international, and Hearing individuals, and any combination of these. 

Stakeholders

• presenter/host
• participants 
• interpreter 
• captionist
• note-taker

Communication Agreement

Consider developing an agreement with all stakeholders to improve communication flow and turn-taking to ensure successful communication with people using diverse communication modes. You may want DAS Services to be aware of your phone/text number in case there is a problem with Zoom access (example: maybe the service provider has the wrong Zoom ID number). DAS can get in touch with you if the service provider cannot get in the meeting. 

• identify self
• take pauses
• paraphrase others to clarify
• make your point
• use chat rather than raise hands to take in and listen to presenter comments

Three or More DHH at a Meeting with Hearing Participants

Consider using a Deaf person as a facilitator or co-facilitator to manage turn-taking, clarify messages, etc.