The Sunday BlindSpot | #Issue 11

Behind the Scenes of Preparing a Big Presentation as a Legally Blind Professional

Excitement and Opportunity

I’m excited to be speaking at the upcoming ALPMA Summit — one of the biggest legal industry conferences of the year. Opportunities like this don’t come around every day, and I’m genuinely looking forward to sharing my perspective with such a large audience.

But presenting at a big conference comes with some unique challenges when you’re visually impaired.

Making the Tech Work

For most speakers, you turn up, load your slides on the conference laptop, and off you go. For me, it’s not that simple. I can’t just rely on the standard setup, so I’ve worked with the ALPMA team to make some adjustments. They’ve been brilliant — and thanks to their support, I’ll be able to run my presentation from my own laptop.

A small change, but one that makes a huge difference.

Rehearsing Differently

Another challenge is rehearsing. At home, I can get by without needing to read my slides clearly. But on stage, I won’t be able to glance down at the screen for a prompt. That means I need to rehearse more than most.

My approach is to commit the flow to memory and use my slides only as visual cues for the audience — keeping the story alive without relying on the screen. It takes extra preparation, but it ensures I come across polished and professional.

Engaging With the Audience

Audience engagement is something I really value, but it can be tricky. I won’t see a raised hand or easily work out who’s speaking. I’ll get the general direction of a voice, but not the finer details.

For me, Q&A is about listening closely, asking clarifying questions where I need to, and focusing on the conversation itself rather than the visual signals.

Navigating Networking

Then there’s the networking. Conferences are designed to spark connections, but they can be daunting when you can’t recognise faces or read name badges. This year will be especially challenging, as I’ll be flying solo — the first time I haven’t been part of a sponsoring vendor team who could help with introductions.

To make things easier, I’ll be wearing a custom badge that says I’m visually impaired, alongside a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower pin. Both are subtle but powerful ways to let people know I may need assistance — or simply that it’s okay to come and introduce yourself.

Looking Ahead

The truth is, conferences do give me some anxiety. But they also give me energy. They’re a chance to learn, to connect, and to see the industry moving forward. I know that once I’m there, the buzz of the event will outweigh the nerves.

The ALPMA program looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and share my perspective on accessibility in legal practice.

Because in the end, accessibility isn’t about lowering the bar. It’s about giving everyone the chance to bring their best.

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👉 If you’re at ALPMA, please stop by my session on Thursday 4th September at 2pm on the ALTACON stage — I’d love to see you there.