By Margaret Moore, PRC-Saltillo Blogger
In my last article, I discussed chairing and presenting on conference panels using my AAC device. There is an additional aspect of the conference session to navigate after the presentation itself—the question-and-answer portion. I have devised a process that enables me to efficiently answer audience members’ questions.
The trick is arranging to be the first panelist to deliver a presentation. When I am able to go first, I gain extra time to program my communication device with responses before the Q and A. The key strategy I use—which I learned from watching a hearing-impaired presenter, who needed to have questions written down rather than spoken—is to distribute blank index cards. At the opening of my presentation, I explain that it takes me a little while to type responses into my device, and I invite the audience to write down their questions on the cards during and after my talk and to pass them up to me when I finish speaking. I have mastered the art of multitasking in the minutes after presenting, listening to my co-panelists speak while I also go through the returned index cards and program my responses. By the time the Q & A begins, I am usually finished and ready to share my thoughts. I also end my responses by offering my contact information and the opportunity to continue the discussion at conference meals and meetups if I have run out of time to respond to all of the questions during the Q & A.
I hope this inspires other AAC users to be unhesitant to answer questions in Q-and-A-type scenarios. Attendees are eager to hear your further insights on the presentation topics, and there is always a way to share them.
Communicators In Action