Public speaking is a common fear that people have. Many people get nervous or anxious even thinking about speaking publicly.
As an advocate, there are many situations where you might need to communicate publicly. Whether it’s at a community meeting or event, or even if there are several participants in a private meeting, being able to communicate confidently and clearly in front of a group will be important. Public speaking is an important tool to add to your advocate’s toolkit.
Note that we are using the term “public speaking,” but in this section we are talking about any form of communication in front of a group – whether that’s speaking, signing, communicating via assistive technology or another format.
Getting ready
Before you speak publicly, you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared. Even if you’re a confident speaker, you should have a plan for how to use your time best.
Start by asking yourself these questions:
- Why are you speaking? What do you want to accomplish?
- Who is the audience? What do they already know about your issue?
- If there were one thing you want the audience to take away, what would it be?
- What format or platform are you using? (E.g. in-person, video call, etc.) Does the host know how to make the event/meeting venue accessible for you?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you can move on to writing your speaking notes.
