Access Support Team

General Access Support

Jodie Salter and Marnie Eves are providing general access support for the event, including coordinating access requests made through registration.

ASL Interpreters

Debbie Parliament will be coordinating the ASL interpretation team.

• Amanda Hyde
• Ava Hawkins
• Carmelle Cachero
• Christie Reaume
• Kate Lewis
• Kelly Ferguson 
• Roman Pizzacalla
• Sheila Keats
• Tim Keslick

Interpreters require significant advance time to prepare for talks and performances in order to accurately and quickly interpret spoken words into ASL for the D/deaf, hard of hearing, and neurodiverse community. Sign languages are languages in and of themselves and are not gestural versions of English. An interpreter is not simply giving a word-for-word translation of work. Interpreters will need time to determine how to best convey complex ideas in ASL. When terms or words in the presenter’s language don’t exist or are not the same in sign language, ASL interpreters need to devise appropriate terms which can be quickly understood by community members. ASL interpreters also need time to fingerspell proper names and complex concepts.

Audio Describers

Kat Germain and Melissa George will provide audio description.

Audio description means describing visual elements of talks and performances in real-time for people who are blind or who have low vision. Audio description requires significant advance preparation in order to quickly interpret and describe visual elements.

Live Transcribers

Angie Lang and Lori will live transcribe panels and presentations.

Live transcription means a person will be typing in real-time what the speakers say, and these captions will be visible for viewers. Live transcription requires significant advance preparation in order to quickly and accurately process spoken words into written text.

Visual Support Ushers

• Gather Town will have visual support ushers to provide navigational support for people who are blind or who have low vision.

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