I came accross this article exploring the reasons for having a Camera off and how we need to make it an individual's choice.
As virtual meetings remain a regular part of most people’s workdays, creating an environment where folks feel empowered to keep their cameras off can have a strong impact for many reasons.
- Blind/Low vision people may not be able to see what their colleagues are seeing or know where to look.
- Anxiety conditions can be exacerbated by being on camera.
- It may be difficult for Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals to read CART or ASL while on camera.
- It supports those who need to take medical care (ex. medication, supplemental oxygen.)
- It supports those with ADHD by reducing external stimuli and visual distractions.
- Autistic people may stim (tap fingers, rock back and forth) to help process information and they may not be comfortable doing so on camera.
We also need to consider any participants that lip read, turning the camera off will make the experience inaccessible to them.
The key to an accessible meeting, is to discuss what people need and adjust.
We recently shared this post on our social channels and fostered a great conversation about accommodations and individual experiences. It’s important to remember that, while keeping the camera off might be useful for some folks, others may have a different perspective. An open dialogue helps us learn together and is what builds truly inclusive workplaces.
https://disabilityin.org/accommodations/keeping-the-camera-off-creates-inclusive-virtual-meetings/
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