These instructions are for presenters giving a talk in Elstad Auditorium (Building 17) of Gallaudet University at SNL 2025. This includes Symposium talks, Panel Session, Slide presentations, Keynote Lectures, and Awards Lectures. To get to Elstad Auditorium (Building 17) enter the main campus entrance/front gate off of Florida Avenue, at the split turn right. Elstad Auditorium (Building 17) will be the first building on your right.
Meeting Registration
All speakers must be registered to attend SNL 2025 prior to giving their talk. You can register online by logging in to your SNL Account and selecting 'Register to Attend SNL 2025'. You can also register onsite at the Registration Desk located in Field House (Building 16) located directly next to Elstad auditorium.
Room Configuration
All talks are given in the Elstad Auditorium of Gallaudet University. Elstad Auditorium is configured with:
- A projector and screen at the center front of the room.
- On the stage is a lectern and a table for staging the speaker laptops.
- On the table is a switchbox for changing the screen display between laptops.
- The lectern has a microphone.
- An audio connection is available at the lectern if you need to play audio from your laptop.
- Two audience microphones are available for taking questions from the audience.
Setting Up for Your Talk
All speakers should arrive in Elstad Auditorium thirty minutes before the start of your session.
You will be presenting from your own laptop computer.
Go to the riser and the AV Technician will help you connect your laptop to the switchbox that is connected to the room projector. You must have a standard HDMI video connection to connect to the switchbox. If you do not have a standard HDMI port on your laptop, you must bring an adaptor. We have a limited number of adaptors available, but we cannot guarantee that we will have one to fit your laptop.
You laptop will be connected to the switchbox via a numbered cable. Presenter #1 is cable 1, and so on. Pressing the appropriately numbered button on the switchbox will display your laptop screen to the room projector.
Test your presentation, including playing video and audio.
If you prefer to use the wireless clip-on microphone (Lavalier) instead of the lectern microphone, ask the AV Technician to set it up and test it.
The screen in the talk room is widescreen format (16:9 aspect ratio), so it’s best to use widescreen slides. Standard slides (4:3 aspect ratio) will work but will have blank space on each side of your slide when projected onto the screen.
Giving Your Presentation
Slide Presentations and Symposium Talks
Slide Presentations are 12 minutes in length, followed by a 3-minute discussion period. Please plan your talk so you can complete your presentation in 15 minutes. Symposium Talks may vary in length as determined by the symposium organizer.
When it is time to present, you will move your laptop, with video cable still attached, from the table to the lectern. Press the appropriately numbered switchbox button to put your presentation live on the screen. At the completion of your talk, you can disconnect the HDMI cable and leave the lectern with your laptop. The next speaker will step up with their laptop.
To verify when you are presenting, see the Symposia Schedule or the Slide Sessions Schedule.
Keynote Lectures and Award Lectures
Keynote Lectures are one hour in length. Please plan your talk to be approximately 50 minutes long to allow for introductions and taking questions at the end of your talk.
The Distinguished Career Award lecture is 45 minutes: 35 minute talk followed by 10 minutes of Q&A. Early Career Award and Dissertation Award lectures are 30 minutes long: 20 minutes talk followed by 10 minutes of Q&A.
To verify when you are presenting, please see the Schedule of Events.
Working with Interpreters
Sign language interpreters will be present throughout the conference to support accessible communication. If you are not used to working with interpreters, please keep these tips in mind.
- Always direct your attention and speech to the person you are conversing with, rather than the interpreter.
- Speak at your natural pace—there’s no need to slow down unnaturally, as interpreters are trained to keep up.
- Please avoid speaking over others, as interpreters can only interpret one person at a time.
- Be mindful of visual sight lines so that interpreters and Deaf participants have a clear view of each other.
If you are giving a talk, we kindly ask that you share a draft of your slides at least 1–2 weeks in advance to allow interpreters to prepare for technical content and terminology.
Technical Assistance
SNL Staff and an AV Technician will be in the Elstad Auditorium 30 minutes prior to the start of your session to help set up your laptop connection and test your presentation. The AV Technician will remain in the room throughout the session. If you need assistance, see the AV Technician first. If you need additional assistance, send someone to the Registration Desk.