Accessible Deaf and Hard of Hearing Hybrid Events in the 2020s

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Abstract
Hybrid events have become increasingly common, yet supporting accessible participation for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) audiences remains challenging. Although accessibility practices for in-person and virtual settings are relatively well established, hybrid environments introduce additional coordination demands, particularly in aligning sign language interpretation, captioning, and audiovisual (AV) workflows across modalities. We present a case study of a large DHH-focused hybrid conference with over 300 virtual and approximately 90 in-person and hybrid attendees. Drawing on planning materials, live workflow observations, and post-event reflections, we examine how accessibility was implemented across in-person and remote contexts. Our analysis identifies recurring challenges in interpreter configuration, Q&A management, and AV coordination. We further identify strategies that supported equitable participation, including the use of separate interpreter teams, structured Q&A workflows, and coordinated AV control across environments. Our findings highlight key trade-offs in supporting visual communication across modalities.

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