This topic gives you step-by-step instructions and best practices for making your Skype for Business meetings accessible to people with disabilities. When your meetings are accessible, you unlock the content to everyone and people with differing abilities can participate in your meetings. You learn, for example, how to augment your meetings with video and instant messaging, and how to make sure assistive technologies can be enabled for your meeting content.
After all, why have a meeting if not to include everyone?
Make every meeting a Skype meeting
Skype for Business can help you include everyone in a meeting, even when everyone is in the same room.
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People with vision impairments can get shared content on their own devices. This lets them use their favorite assistive technologies, such as a screen reader or magnifier.
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You can record the meeting, so people can review the meeting in the future.
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People with hearing impairments can get transcription services in real time, through Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART). CART is available in many languages around the world.
In this topic
Quick-start a Skype for Business meeting
Don't lose valuable meeting time just to start an online meeting.
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When you schedule the meeting, make it a Skype meeting. Then people can join the meeting from a link or a reminder in Outlook, or join directly through Skype for Business.
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For ad-hoc meetings or meetings that were not scheduled to be online:
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Select Meet Now from the calendar icon in the Skype for Business main window.
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Select the Invite More People icon in the Conversation window, and invite the people that you want.
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Tip: If the people in the meeting are in an Exchange distribution list or group, add the group to your Contacts. Then, just select the group name, open the context menu (with right-click or Shift+F10), and select Start a Video Call.
Include video to increase understanding
We humans work best when we have input from multiple sensory sources. Educators and entertainers use this fact constantly, when they choose video as a medium. You can do the same thing with a phone call or meeting.
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Video enables deaf participants to use a sign-language interpreter.
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Video enhances full-spectrum speech understanding. This can be especially helpful for people who are hard of hearing and depend on speech reading.
Tip: During a video meeting, check the video preview screen to make sure that people can see you clearly. For example, where you sit in relation to the camera can make a difference.
Invite a CART transcriber for people who can't hear
Invite a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) transcriber to a meeting or phone call in Skype for Business to get real-time captions. At the end of the meeting, ask for a transcript to share with the participants.
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CART services are available worldwide and in many languages. CART makes it possible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate fully in a meeting or phone call.
Tips:
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Add a conference phone as a participant by using the Invite More People icon. Just type in the telephone number. The phone can be a media-enabled conference phone in the room or a smart phone.
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Ask participants to say their names when they participate. This helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing follow the meeting.
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Make sure only one person speaks at a time.
Add IM to augment spoken communication
Instant messaging (IM) lets you offer meeting information in alternative forms.
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Type instant alternative text (alt text) for screen content in IM.
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Ask interpreters to post additional information in IM for deaf people to read.
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Paste detailed information, such as URLs to documents and web pages, in text. Details don't get lost, and people can open linked content directly on their own computers. If needed, people can use magnifiers or screen readers to enhance understanding.
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Post important statements, decisions, and action items into IM.
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People with speech impairments and those who process auditory information at a different pace can type questions or answers in IM.
Note: You can follow the same accessibility practices when using IM in Skype for Business Online in Outlook on the web.
Make every meeting a Skype meeting
Skype for Business for Mac can help you include everyone in a meeting, even when everyone is in the same room.
-
People with vision impairments can get shared content on their own devices. This lets them use their favorite assistive technologies, such as a screen reader or magnifier.
-
You can record the meeting, so people can review the meeting in the future.
-
People with hearing impairments can get transcription services in real time, through Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART). CART is available in many languages around the world.
In this topic
Quick-start a Skype for Business meeting
Don't lose valuable meeting time just to start an online meeting.
-
When you schedule the meeting, make it a Skype meeting. Then people can join the meeting from a link or a reminder in Outlook, or join directly through Skype for Business for Mac.
-
For ad-hoc meetings or meetings that were not scheduled to be online:
-
Select the contact in the Contacts view, and click the Start a Video Call icon.
-
To add more people to the meeting, click the People icon in the meeting screen, and invite the people that you want.
-
Tip: If the people in the meeting are in an Exchange distribution list or group, add the group to your Contacts. Then, just select the group name, and select Start a Video Call.
Include video to increase understanding
We humans work best when we have input from multiple sensory sources. Educators and entertainers use this fact constantly, when they choose video as a medium. You can do the same thing with a phone call or meeting.
-
Video enables deaf participants to use a sign-language interpreter.
-
Video enhances full-spectrum speech understanding. This can be especially helpful for people who are hard of hearing and depend on speech reading.
Tip: During a video meeting, check the video preview screen to make sure that people can see you clearly. For example, where you sit in relation to the camera can make a difference.
Invite a CART transcriber for people who can't hear
Invite a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) transcriber to a meeting or phone call in Skype for Business for Mac to get real-time captions. At the end of the meeting, ask for a transcript to share with the participants.
-
CART services are available worldwide and in many languages. CART makes it possible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate fully in a meeting or phone call.
Tips:
-
Add a conference phone as a participant by using the People icon. Just type in the telephone number. The phone can be a media-enabled conference phone in the room or a smart phone.
-
Ask participants to say their names when they participate. This helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing follow the meeting.
-
Make sure only one person speaks at a time.
Add IM to augment spoken communication
Instant messaging (IM) lets you offer meeting information in alternative forms.
-
Type instant alternative text (alt text) for screen content in IM.
-
Ask interpreters to post additional information in IM for deaf people to read.
-
Paste detailed information, such as URLs to documents and web pages, in text. Details don't get lost, and people can open linked content directly on their own computers. If needed, people can use magnifiers or screen readers to enhance understanding.
-
Post important statements, decisions, and action items into IM.
-
People with speech impairments and those who process auditory information at a different pace can type questions or answers in IM.
Make every meeting a Skype meeting
Skype for Business can help you include everyone in a meeting, even when everyone is in the same room.
-
People with vision impairments can get shared content on their own devices. This lets them use their favorite assistive technologies, such as a screen reader or magnifier.
-
People with hearing impairments can get transcription services in real time, through Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART). CART is available in many languages around the world.
In this topic
Quick-start a Skype for Business meeting
Don't lose valuable meeting time just to start an online meeting.
-
When you schedule the meeting, make it a Skype meeting. Then people can join directly through Skype for Business.
-
For ad-hoc meetings or meetings that were not scheduled:
-
Tap Meet Now in the Meetings view.
-
Tap the Add icon in the meeting screen, and invite the people that you want.
-
Tip: If the people in the meeting are in an Exchange distribution list or group, add the group to your Contacts. Then, just tap the group name to open the conversation screen, and start the meeting.
Include video to increase understanding
We humans work best when we have input from multiple sensory sources. Educators and entertainers use this fact constantly, when they choose video as a medium. You can do the same thing with a phone call or meeting.
-
Video enables deaf participants to use a sign-language interpreter.
-
Video enhances full-spectrum speech understanding. This can be especially helpful for people who are hard of hearing and depend on speech reading.
Tip: During a video meeting, check the video preview screen to make sure that people can see you clearly. For example, where you sit in relation to the camera can make a difference.
Invite a CART transcriber for people who can't hear
Invite a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) transcriber to a meeting or phone call in Skype for Business to get real-time captions. At the end of the meeting, ask for a transcript to share with the participants.
-
CART services are available worldwide and in many languages. CART makes it possible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate fully in a meeting or phone call.
Tips:
-
Add a conference phone as a participant by tapping the Add icon. Just type in the telephone number. The phone can be a media-enabled conference phone in the room or a smart phone.
-
Ask participants to say their names when they participate. This helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing follow the meeting.
-
Make sure only one person speaks at a time.
Add IM to augment spoken communication
Instant messaging (IM) lets you offer meeting information in alternative forms.
-
Type instant alternative text (alt text) for screen content in IM.
-
Ask interpreters to post additional information in IM for deaf people to read.
-
Paste detailed information, such as URLs to documents and web pages, in text. Details don't get lost, and people can open linked content directly on their own computers. If needed, people can use magnifiers or screen readers to enhance understanding.
-
Post important statements, decisions, and action items into IM.
-
People with speech impairments and those who process auditory information at a different pace can type questions or answers in IM.
Make every meeting a Skype meeting
Skype for Business for Android can help you include everyone in a meeting, even when everyone is in the same room.
-
People with vision impairments can get shared content on their own devices. This lets them use their favorite assistive technologies, such as a screen reader or magnifier.
-
People with hearing impairments can get transcription services in real time, through Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART). CART is available in many languages around the world.
In this topic
Quick-start a Skype for Business meeting
Don't lose valuable meeting time just to start an online meeting.
-
When you schedule the meeting, make it a Skype meeting. Then people can join directly through Skype for Business for Android.
-
For ad-hoc meetings or meetings that were not scheduled:
-
Tap the contact in the Contacts view, and start the meeting.
-
To add more people to the meeting, tap the Add icon in the meeting screen, and invite the people that you want.
-
Tip: If the people in the meeting are in an Exchange distribution list or group, add the group to your Contacts. Then, just tap the group name to open the conversation screen, and start the meeting.
Include video to increase understanding
We humans work best when we have input from multiple sensory sources. Educators and entertainers use this fact constantly, when they choose video as a medium. You can do the same thing with a phone call or meeting.
-
Video enables deaf participants to use a sign-language interpreter.
-
Video enhances full-spectrum speech understanding. This can be especially helpful for people who are hard of hearing and depend on speech reading.
Tip: During a video meeting, check the video preview screen to make sure that people can see you clearly. For example, where you sit in relation to the camera can make a difference.
Invite a CART transcriber for people who can't hear
Invite a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) transcriber to a meeting or phone call in Skype for Business for Android to get real-time captions. At the end of the meeting, ask for a transcript to share with the participants.
-
CART services are available worldwide and in many languages. CART makes it possible for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to participate fully in a meeting or phone call.
Tips:
-
Add a conference phone as a participant by tapping the Add icon. Just type in the telephone number. The phone can be a media-enabled conference phone in the room or a smart phone.
-
Ask participants to say their names when they participate. This helps people who are deaf or hard of hearing follow the meeting.
-
Make sure only one person speaks at a time.
Add IM to augment spoken communication
Instant messaging (IM) lets you offer meeting information in alternative forms.
-
Type instant alternative text (alt text) for screen content in IM.
-
Ask interpreters to post additional information in IM for deaf people to read.
-
Paste detailed information, such as URLs to documents and web pages, in text. Details don't get lost, and people can open linked content directly on their own computers. If needed, people can use magnifiers or screen readers to enhance understanding.
-
Post important statements, decisions, and action items into IM.
-
People with speech impairments and those who process auditory information at a different pace can type questions or answers in IM.
