4 Creating an Inclusive Atmosphere
One of the primary considerations before drilling down into the details is ensuring you have thought about some of the basic considerations to creating an inclusive atmosphere – be that through your role as an organizer to the amount of funding allocated to accessibility. In this section, we have highlighted some practices to consider for all types of events and programs.
Included in this section: event organizer responsibilities, inclusive introductions, representation, participation, and funding for inclusion and accessibility.
Event Organizer Responsibilities
Ask Yourself
- Who is organizing the event and for whom is it for?
- Does the representation of the planning committee fit the need of this [event, program, training, etc.]?
- How will the focus on DEI be emphasized?
Recommended Practices
- Prior to hosting an event, set up a vetting process around the program’s purpose and the target audience. Having a diverse group of individuals review the motivation and structure of a program allows for organizers to identify any misguided motivation or unintended messaging.
- Part of this vetting process could mean creating a planning committee that is representative of the audience and stakeholders. If your planning committee does not currently have a wide range of representatives, pause before moving forward and get more voices to the decision table!
Inclusive Introductions
Ask Yourself
- How can I create the most open and welcoming environment?
Recommended Practices
Personal Introductions
When making personal introductions, consider demonstrating the following:
- Your name
- Your pronouns (with the caveat that if you are comfortable and feel safe enough to share)
- Your visual description (again as you feel comfortable.)
- Include race and/or skin-tone (detail and depth dependent on you), gender (i.e. woman, man, person, etc.), hair color/length/style (detail dependent on you), clothing (detail dependent on you), and background (detail dependent on you)
- Visual Description provide access to information about people who are present in a room means an equitable experience for everyone. For a visually impaired person who has some level of sight, having descriptions of physical characteristics can help them recall individuals and identify them on a second meeting.
- Example: Hello my name is Superman, I use he/him pronouns. I am a tall white man with short dark hair, green eyes, fair skin, and I am wearing [describe what you are wearing], and describe the setting [zoom – your space as you feel comfortable and/or the physical space the programming is taking place in].
Name Badges
Offer the option to wear a name tag with preferred names and pronouns (if desired). For communication and/or health comfort, you can consider also using a color system with your badges.
Content Warnings for Sensitive Material, Including Images and Discussion
Prior to hosting an event, showing a film or clip, reading an excerpt, etc., it is g