Making your activism accessible

This page was created to support activists in making their spaces more accessible, that is, to ensure everyone's needs to access movement spaces are met so more people can contribute to the climate movement in whatever way they can! Several of the topics found in this guide are based on questions asked by activists in the HUB's community (i.e. how to make in-person events more accessible, how to make promotional materials more engaging etc.).

The information included comes from existing organizer databases and resources by movement thinkers. We've included resources from blogs written by people living with accessibility needs, as they are experts on this topic. However, note that each personal experience is distinct, thus we encourage further insight from different positionalities to share further ideas on how this page can be expanded upon and improved. This guide includes definitions of accessibility, messaging suggestions on the intersections of climate and disability justice, considerations for accessible event, action planning, communication and content sharing, considerations for creating an accessible culture and other suggestions related to creating a space that is accessible to everyone who wants to contribute to the movement for climate justice.

Defining accessibility

"Universal accessibility is the character of a product, process, service, information or environment which, with a view to fairness and an inclusive approach, allows anyone to carry out activities independently and to obtain equivalent results." - Groupe DÉFI Accessibilité (GDA) & Ex Aequo

Ex Aequo distinguish accessibility from adaptation: "Adaptation would consist of changes made in order to accommodate people in relation to “an environment, a communication, a program, or an already existing service. We adapt when we build a subway with only stairs, then add elevators several years later. We make it universally accessible when we provide access ramps to the buses."

Why is Accessibility Critical to Movement Spaces?

Access Culture expands on definitions of accessibility, explaining:

"For people who live on the margins, who have to fight to prove their existence, who are excluded from movements, who are subject to abuse in the form of isolation, having access to spaces means having access to community, to connection, to existence. When we make spaces accessible, when we build movements based on inclusion, we recognize that each person has an intrinsic value, that our existence is beautiful and necessary. Creating accessible spaces is about recognizing that connection is necessary, that community is necessary, that our culture is built on the myth of separation, the lie of disconnection. We must move from independence to interdependence in order to transform society." 

Why is accessibility critical to movement spaces?

1. Embodying our values	To challenge oppressive systems, we must embody anti-oppressive values in our own organizing spaces. This includes practicing an access culture and challenging internalized ableism (largely mirrors internalized capitalism). Existing with a disability is anti-capitalist; it directly opposed capitalism's push for productivity, extraction and commodifying our bodies as instruments meant for labour and building wealth. Disability justice is anti-capitalist. If we truly want to see a just world that prioritizes people and the planet, the needs of those most affected by oppression must be prioritized (see next related point).
2. Prioritizing and leadership of  marginalized people	Ableism is a form of oppression that denies people with disabilities (or persons with a physical or mental impairment) and/or chronic illness opportunities to care for themselves. Ableism is deeply rooted in capitalism, colonialism and white supremacy Disabled people, and anyone else with an identity that renders them disposable (that which doesn't contribute to the status quo), are leaders in describing what is wrong with how we're operating our society. Disabled people live through some of the most challenging consequences of capitalism and the climate crisis. Those most affected by forms of oppression, such as ableism (racism, transphobia etc.), must lead to embody our values in our organizing, and to achieve true justice.
3. Meeting everyone’s needs to build our collective fight	On a purely strategic note: You will not mobilize the numbers you need without considering access. Many, if not most, people who would otherwise be interested, will be marginalized out of your organizing space if access needs are not considered. Otherwise, if they do not see their immediate needs also being prioritized by your campaigning, they will not want to join. We are all likely to experience disability in our lives. Whether it be old age, stress, illness or accident-related, we will all have an access need at some point. If you developed a disability or access need today, that wasn't being met by the movement space you're involved in... would you quit? Would you advocate? Could there be other people that are unable to access our space? There is a tendancy for some to find movement spaces uninviting. This can be due to unclear access points for involvement. This can also be due to not being able to see oneself in movement spaces, particularly if you have needs that must be accommodated to include oneself. For folks in movement spaces... are certain people rewarded because they can contribute the most time and effort? Do we favour their voices over those who have to care for their health (or who have other priorities such as working a 2nd job, caretaking etc.)?
5. Organizers are burning out!/Non-disabled people are impacted by ableism too	Capitalism, colonialism, white supremacy, the heteronormative patriarchy etc. all have their own way of defining what value is, and what care is, and who is deserving of both. Our systems places value on cisgender, white, male, settler, able body and minded norms of labour and productivity, and says those that deviate are less deserving of care. Status quo expectations are prized as what we should want, determining those that deviate are invaluable. Internalized ableism uses productivity and sameness to define our worth, and doing too much to achieve too much can lead to burnout; a major problem in movement spaces. Internalized ableism for both disabled and non-disabled folks negatively impacts how we conduct our organizing, and our pursuit of more just systems. Disabled queer and trans communities of colorhave been preparing for the survival of their communities through oncoming disasters, by  teaching each other skills in resilience-based organizing to strategically create the changes that we need for our futures. These skills are necessary for climate organizers to learn from.
6. Disability justice is intersectionally related to all other fights for justice.	The conditions we’re living in, under capitalism, white supremacy and colonialism can be disabling themselves. For example... Chronic stress can be disabling (e.g. the daily toll of systems of oppression). For example, neurodivergent people (ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety) people are more likely than neurotypical people to experience physical health problems.  Racism can be disabling (e.g. Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old black child, was disabled by a racist encounter). Colonialism can be disabling (e.g. Aamijiwnaang First Nation has been impacted by settler colonialism, capitalism and environmental racism as over 60 petrochemical facilities can be found within a 25 km2 area. Community members face high rates of cancer, respiratory illness and reproductive health issues).

As described by Aerik Woodams at People's Hub, individual access is often framed as extra work; that there are 'more important things to address'. Disabled and otherwise marginalized people ask us to do things differently. This might feel like work at first, but these efforts benefit all of us by giving us more strength, understanding and tools to build a better world. 

Disability Justice is Climate Justice: Messaging Suggestions

• Sometimes approaches to climate can reinforce ableism, and this is represented by the term eco-ableism. See our page on ableism for examples of eco-ableism

Describing disability justice	"Disability Justice acknowledges that all bodies are valuable, hold beauty, and are deserving of care. This extends to our community bodies, to the bodies of our plant and animal kin, and to our shared planetary body itself, the earth." -Sins Invalid "Disability Justice insists we recognize that all of our bodies are integral to any movement toward justice. All too often in ableism, we witness people believing that some bodies are superior to other bodies, and in this myopic violent vision, believe their lives to be more valuable than others."-Sins Invalid
Disabled people are marginalized and are deserving of liberation	"Disability justice and the climate crisis are connected because people with disabilities are some of the most vulnerable members of society and often the most impacted. The climate crisis can seem like a somewhat invisible issue, and disabled people can also feel invisible."-Daphne Frias for Stanford Social Innovation Review 80% of disabled people live in the Global South, regions most impacted by the climate crisis and exploitation. "From homeless encampments to local jail cells, the social, political, and economic disparities among disabled queer and trans people of color put our communities at the frontlines of ecological disaster.” -Patty Berne
Environmental racism and natural disasters cause disabilities	"It is imperative that we discuss the climate crisis as a social determinant of health. If we ask ourselves why Black and brown communities have higher rates of asthma, we also must look at where they live."-Daphne Frias for Stanford Social Innovation Review
Natural disasters disproportionately harm disabled and other marginalized people	*The structural barriers that disability communities face become a matter of life or death during disaster. Thus, people with disabilities are 5 times more likely to die in a natural disaster. -Leanne McNulty  "When we aren’t included before disaster strikes, how will we be effectively accommodated during a crisis? When disability is an afterthought, or something squeezed into an existing response plan, risk is created that could have been planned for and perhaps avoided."-Daphne Frias for Stanford Social Innovation Review (e.g. evacuation plans, access to cooling centers etc). "Climate change is accelerating forced migration at a time when disabled people find it increasingly difficult to cross borders — not simply because of the physical demands, but also because of political opposition." Disabled people may be unable to enter countries because their diagnosis or condition is considered 'burdensome'. -Julia Watts Belser Plus, migrants may struggle to access the services they need (health services and long-term medical, financial, and social support). -Tiffany Yu Specific examples include: "Some members of the disability community are especially vulnerable to extreme heat events due to increased sensitivity to keeping our body temperatures cool enough."  -Tiffany Yu Natural disaster can cut electricity, "which is especially problematic because so many disabled people need electricity-powered medical equipment to survive." -Tiffany Yu Droughts and flooding cause food and water insecurity. "Because of other social factors like thedisproportionate number of disabled people who are caught in an endless poverty cycle, the disability community is especially vulnerable during these shortages." -Tiffany Yu Disabled people may be unable to evacuate from disaster and/or may lose "critical mobility and accessibility devices (wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, hearing aids, communication devices)." -Tiffany Yu
Avoid eco-ableist messaging	"Prioritizing personal ownership of environmental impacts over corporate environmental responsibility fuels ableism and discrimination toward people with disabilities (e.g., by focusing on reducing individual carbon footprints and maligning those who need single-use equipment)."-Daphne Frias For example, many disabled people rely on delivery services for food, personal items and other things. It is not the fault of disabled individuals that large corporations do not use environmentally-friendly packaging.
Address immediate survival needs	"Disabled people are so busy just surviving. We have to self advocate all the time for access to employment, education, benefits or healthcare. It means unless there is a flood at my door I’m not thinking about the climate so much. We need to get people out of poverty because you can’t do anything about the climate if you are completely ostracised from participating in regular life.” -Pauline Castres "When issues like discrimination, access to adequate healthcare, unemployment, and poverty are among our top concerns, climate change tends to be an afterthought. When we are fighting for basic human rights and equality, how do we have time to think about climate change? Being concerned about and fighting for climate justice is a privilege." -Tiffany Yu
'Survival of the fittest' is an oppressive mindset	Accepting the loss of some lives over others as 'inevitable' is oppressive. "We aren't just talking about physical vulnerability; ableism, racism, class inequality and other forms of oppression work together to compound and intensify risk." -Julia Watts Belser "Working for climate justice requires challenging the root causes of vulnerability, rather than treating disabled people as the inevitable casualties of climate change. It also means interrogating the realities that keep some of us farther from the storm." -Julia Watts Belser Access to wealth makes it easier to evacuate, and white supremacy translates "into the political clout and communal resources that make climate disruptions more survivable in the first place — better infrastructure, less exposure to environmental hazards and more robust public assistance during and after crisis." -Julia Watts Belser

Holding Accessible Events and Meetings

Meeting Attendees Needs

Disability and able-bodies exist on a spectrum. Most of us have experience with ableism and the pressures of capitalism, and/or experience being excluded by other systems of oppression that limit our access. We invite you to reflect on how making a space accessible goes beyond ensuring people can physically access a space, but also that they can show up as fully as others in the room. If helpful, we suggest checking out our wiki on incorporating space watchers and holders for further considerations.

Quick tips:

• Pause frequently during events and meetings to ask if anyone has any access needs that need to be addressed!
• UK Mutual Aid has an example of an accessibility checklist that you can use as a blueprint to creating a checklist for your team.

Childcare	Consider where people can access with and leave strollers. Provide babysitting if possible!
Wheelchair accessibility	A person in a wheelchair should be able to move around in all the rooms and access a toilet. Doors must be 800mm minimum. The dimensions of a toilet cubicle must be 1500 x 1500mm minimum. All paths must be obstacle-free and have a clear width of at least 920 mm. Check if the place is under construction or renovation, which could make the space temporarily inaccessible. The entrance must be a single level or equipped with an access ramp. It must be at least 800 mm wide. Snow will always make accessibility more difficult for folks with limited mobility. [3]
Food and water	Water is especially important during long events or on hot days. Plan meals that respect dietary restrictions.  Provide snacks during long or hot days! If you're selling food, provide free or low-cost options. Share the ingredients lists
Accessibility support	Designate support persons for those in need as requests arise. Identify them with something such as an armband or shirt. Including descriptive language can paint a picture of what others see and provide richer context for those with vision trouble.
Transportation	Choose a place that is accessible by public transport and that is close to toilets and shelter from the sun or the rain. Have people wait at these places to accompany people with reduced mobility while they wait for transport.
Ways to participate	If the event cannot be universally accessible, offer other ways to participate, such as actions that can be done remotely. Livesteaming is great for those who can't attend in person. Plan an activity with several components to promote the involvement of people with reduced mobility.
Timing and barriers to participation	Be transparent about the schedule for the event. Let participants know the destination(s) and duration ahead of time. Be transparent about barriers to participation and mobility!
Language	Are speakers using word choices that most people will know? Are interpreters available for community members who use a language other than English? What about those with visual or auditory impairments?
Timing	Do not hold your event too early in the day, or too late. Some disabilities/situations that limit people from attending early morning/late evenings.
Allergies and sensitivities	Ask participants not to wear scented products.  Fluorescent lighting can make spaces inaccessible to some people.
Photography	Always ask before using flash photography. Encourage attendees to avoid taking photos of faces without asking for consent from those in the photo.
Bathrooms	Are they accessible and safe for everyone (such as transgender people) to use?
Neurodivergent and/or introverted inclusion	Neurodivergent: describes how developmental disorders are normal variations in the brain. The neurodiverse umbrella includes but is not limited to ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and other learning disabilities. Many people also include mental illnesses under the umbrella of neurodiversity, such as  anxiety, bipolar, PTSD, schizophrenia etc. Introversion: Susan Cain describes that where people who are extroverted are stimulated by their environment and absorb energy by interacting with others, introverted people recharge when they are alone and feel overwhelmed by prolonged social interactions and stimulations from their environment. Meeting neurodivergent and introverted needs: Outline event plans ahead of time and/or throughout the event if possible. An awareness of time can be particularly helpful. For example, some people take time-sensitive medication, need to leave by a certain time etc. Provide breaks/slower periods. This can help avoid overstimulation and help people refocus. Provide access to a quiet/low stimulation space. The space should not include fluorescent light, and should be calm with no pressure to socialize. Provide handouts of key information, such as the rights of protestors, legal information, actions they can take at home etc. This is easier to comprehend than a speaker sharing this information with a crowd. When planning activities and get-togethers, keep in mind that we are trying to avoid both overstimulation for the most introverted people and loss of interest for the most extroverted people. Try to balance the types of activities included in your event/action to avoid overstimulating the most introverted people and losing the interest of the most extroverted people. For example, an event that exclusively involves networking will probably exclusively include extroverts! Space out activities that take a lot of social energy. Many people require quiet time to think about their response to a question or discussion prompt. Before starting discussions, give people a minute on their own to write down their thoughts. For further information on meeting neurodivergent needs, see this resource by Rooted in Rights.
BIPOC inclusion	Publicize the organization's anti-racism position and how the organization will deal with a situation of racism. Have staff available that are Black, Indigenous and Persons of colour in case of a person's concerns, insecurity or distress Do not publicize the event with images of BIPOC people unless they occupy an important place within the event itself (e.g. in terms of resources allocated, people invited, partner groups, staff etc).
Gender identity inclusion	Have staff with different gender identities available for people’s concerns, insecurity or distress. Ask people to write or say their pronouns. Have gender-neutral toilets and identify them as such. Don’t use illustrations or gendered vocabulary.
Low-income inclusion	The most accessible option is to offer things for free; voluntary contributions are another option, but it’s better to avoid putting people in these situations. Consider whether internet access is necessary for participation. Provide adapted vocabulary or accompanying documents.

Pandemic Safety Measures

If you do not have safety measures in place during a pandemic, higher-risk individuals in particular are unlikely to attend your event.  It also sends the message that people at high-risk of becoming very ill are disposable. Safety measures prevent people from becoming seriously ill, long-term disability and death.

Thomas A. Russo, professor of Infectious disease at the University of Buffalo, suggests that safety measures to put in place when planning an in-person event include:

• Advertising that attendees wear masks for the duration of the event, even for events held outdoors. Have extra masks available for those who come without one, ideally N95 or KN95’s which are one of the best available options to protect against COVID-19.
• Have a few volunteers who can provide hand sanitizer every so often, and especially before distributing food if this is included in your event.
• State that those who are feeling ill, have come in contact with someone who has tested positive OR have come in contact with someone who has tested negative but is showing symptoms of illness, should not attend.
  
• Encourage attendees to keep their distance from one another as often as possible.
  

The People’s CDC has further recommendations for planning safe gatherings during a pandemic:

• Provide universal pre and post event testing.
• Stay in small, consistent groups.
• Perform contact tracing.
• Ensure the meeting space has adequate ventilation and air quality (open windows/doors, ensure HVAC systems are functional, use HEPA filters if possible).
• Perform high filtration universal masking. Provide certified N95/KN94 masks if possible.
• Provide a place for folks to eat outside.
• Reduce high-risk activities 5 days prior to the event (i.e. unmasked, indoor activities outside of the household)
  
• Gather outdoors when possible. The risk of catching an airborne virus from an outdoor gathering is lower than from an indoor one. There is still a risk of contracting a virus, especially at crowded protests or gatherings.

Suggestions for Virtual Events

Internet access	Can people attend without an account on that platform? (i.e., Facebook Live, Instagram Live/Stories, YouTube). If you’re hosting an event over video conferencing software (i.e. Zoom, Google Hangouts, or GoToMeeting); offer a dial-in by phone option. For people with limited or no access to internet at home. Be willing to share information offline too. Create a tip sheet for online platforms with directions. The tip sheet can include information, step-by-step, about how to use the platform(s). For more, see this resource on video conferencing software for accessibility.
Invite and include disabled people and their needs	Include disabled people as speakers. Share what you are planning to do to increase event access. Budget to provide closed captioning, sign language interpretation and other language interpretation.  Live descriptions, captions and good audio are key for live streamed events. Make sure the service you’re using to host is compatible with assistive technology, for example screen readers, and that it allows for computer-based listening/speaking and 'phone-based listening/speaking. Make sure your events are accessible to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users. This requires offering multiple ways to participate, answer questions, submit questions, and interact. Have an accessibility point person who can assist with access issues and technology concerns. Mention how to reach them at the beginning of your event. Wear a headset when presenting to improve audio quality, and try to have speakers limit background noise. It's helpful for speakers to state their name each time they speak for those with hearing impairments and the accuracy of the technology they rely on. Describe live scenarios and any images, read any text that appears on screen, and describe gestures for those with visual impairments.
Share the format of the event and how long it plans to run	Check out the following resource on inclusive design principles for the content of your event.
Provide any written or visual materials ahead of time.	Use an accessible file format Consider providing a glossary of terms that will be used during the event.
Allow attendees to send questions and comments in advance.	Allow attendees to send questions and comments in advance. You can also share if attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions during the event. Make it possible for people anonymously, or with their name and RSVP attached, to make access need requests.
Build time for reflection/breaks into your event, as well as time for questions.
Offer channels to provide feedback about the event	I.e. including accessibility, to help you prepare to plan the next one.

Suggestions for Hybrid and Virtual Meetings

Virtual and hybrid virtual/in person meetings require stable internet connections, access to hardware (i.e. cell phones and computers) and some technology literacy. 

If you’re working with participants who don’t have access to the internet or hardware, these tips may be hard to implement. However, there are other tools and techniques you can use such as conference call services, message groups, photos of call lists, etc. that can be used. The following are tips for holding hybrid (in-person and virtual) meetings, and general meeting tips.

Blueprints for Change offers an extensive guide filled with tips on hosting effective hybrid meetings. The following compiles some of the tips found in their hosting virtual/hybrid meetings guide, and from the write up developed by Training for Change.

Considerations for Planning a Hybrid Meeting

Things you'll need to do this successfully	Internet connectivity. There are workarounds for lower bandwidth connections, such as the phone-in options built into platforms such as Zoom, but the drawback is a lack of visual contact.  Internet connection of phone-in options for participants (otherwise call-in teleconference numbers are usually available) Those who join a meeting using their phone do not have the same functions available as those using a desktop. Consider sending important links ahead of the meeting, or in your workspace during, so people on the phone can access them. A platform to stream the meeting (i.e. zoom, google meets etc). Tech literacy (provide tools and norms, such as via sharing visuals with your attendees, ahead of time so they can learn on their own) Use a shared document for notetaking. Offline versions of meeting documents allows those joining by phone to participate better.
Prepare ahead of time	Schedule group meetings at least 2-3 days ahead of time. This helps members to arrange for schedules, care-taking, quiet space, tech, etc.  Have plugs and power cords set up ahead of time so in-person attendees can plug in as needed without interrupting the meeting. Attendees joining virtually will also want to ensure they have adequate power for the duration of the meeting. Instruct in-person attendees to bring their computers/phones and dial into the virtual meeting platform (such as Zoom) so that all attendees, regardless of what space they’re in, can see everyone. If your meeting has a cluster of people together and only 1-2 people in the virtual space it may not be appropriate for every attendee to be at a computer. You’ll want to prep and think ahead about in-room camera and microphone placement and position chairs, easels and more in spots that can be seen and heard by the people on camera. Use one central mic to pick up everyone’s voices in the room, or pass a microphone around the room. Or, everyone in the room can unmute while they talk and re-mute when they’re done to avoid mic feedback. Encourage virtual attendees to have headphones handy that they can use.
Roles you might consider when hosting hybrid meetings	-Lead facilitator -Co-facilitator(s) -Bridge facilitator; to bridge the digital and IRL spaces and who can support the IRL facilitator to make sure the digital folks are supported. This person could also be assigned to keep track of participants who have asked for a speaking turn so that both in person and digital voices are included. -Visuals, Slides & Notes lead  -Tech lead; to manage your session slides, doing things like screen sharing, watching the chat box, setting up and doing sound checks at the beginning of your session, and troubleshooting if problems come up along the way. -Vibes & Energizers lead  -Stack keeper (monitor order of speakers, chat and Q&A functions) -Buddies for virtual participants (for hybrid meetings)
Plan for shifts in power dynamics, because some people are in groups vs others are on their own.	How many people are connecting individually versus in groups? How many different groups are connected? Do any of the groups connecting together already have some power (i.e. circles of established friendships)? Consider... -People connecting in groups may have an easier time connecting with others in the same room.   -People connecting on their own may have an easier time connecting with others who also connected on their own. -Those who connected the same way as the facilitator may have an easier time communicating with the facilitator.  -When you use the chat box, those on their own device have easier access to participate. -When people are in a room together, those controlling the screen, who are on camera and/or closer to the microphone are advantaged.

Preparing Participants Before the Meeting

Provide and seek information

Check out this example prep email provided by Blueprints for Change, which demonstrated some of the information that could be helpful to provide pre-meeting to make participants comfortable and prepared. Information to provide/seek to prepare participants include: Context regarding the main agenda items before the meeting. For example, what is the main purpose of the meeting? What are the meeting goals?  Provide items you want participants to review ahead of time so folks can reflect before the meeting.  Input and feedback from all who will be participating to add agenda items and confirm whether the meeting goals address their needs.  Ask participants to share if they will need translation, interpretation, or any other accommodations. Provide at least a few days for participants to inform you about their needs. Mention if you will be recording ahead of time so folks can raise concerns if they have them. Remind people to download needed software and/or sort out their audio in the invite email sent in advance. Ask folks to set up in advance of the call.

Offer a training on how to use the platform

Offer an advance prep meeting to train and support some folks who could use your support to join and engage in the meeting. These slides have some information on how to engage in a zoom meeting that might be helpful. Make the meeting purpose and outcomes explicit for your attendees and help them understand the flow of the meeting.

Holding the Hybrid/Virtual Meetings

Start with introductions and a check-in.	Let folks introduce themselves, their pronouns and make time for relationship building by letting people share how they are doing or something about them. For example, check-in questions related to care might be "what colour best describes how you're feeling today?" Or, "If you're comfortable, share one high and one low from your week so far!"  You can also hold more fun get-to-know one another check-in's to lighten the mood of the meeting, such as "tell us about a book or tv show you engaged with recently that you'd recommend!" Or, "what is your favourite houseplant?"
Try to take notes and video recordings for those who can't attend.	Name it early that you are recording and allow folks to opt out, by getting off video, or managing their participation. Plans to record should also be mentioned before the meeting so concerns can be addressed.
Provide a person or place where attendees can seek support	In the case they feel disrespected or have needs that aren't being met during the meeting.
It might be relevant to share participation guidelines and/or the group's mission statement to ground the group before beginning.	Examples of participation guidelines, inspired by Aspiration Tech [21] , might include...  -Please focus on listening, not only on what you are hearing.  -Wherever possible, please refrain from multitasking on email or social media.  -Please use simple, accessible language. Please avoid jargon and acronyms. -When you speak, please try to make one point or a few brief points and then let others speak.  -Help us be mindful of the schedule and stay on time. Please support us in moving the dialog forward.  -Please indicate you want to speak by raising your hand on video; if you are not able to use or raise your hand, please feel free to speak up, but please try not to interrupt others.  -Stay muted when you are not speaking.  -Please be mindful of background noise and join the call from a quiet location if you can. Parents and caregivers are certainly exempt, but muting still applies.
Get participants to engage with one another!	If all attendees are virtual in a “room” together encourage people who are not experiencing sensory or personal needs to turn their camera on. This helps to foster community and share non-verbal cues.  In a hybrid meeting environment people who are on screen should be assigned a buddy who is in the physical room. Their buddy regularly checks in with them and makes sure they can see and hear at all times. If you only have 1-2 people in the virtual space you may also want to have a direct line open between the virtual participants and the facilitator through text. Encourage folks to come off mute at the beginning for introductions and check ins. This sets the tone for engagement throughout the meeting. Check the chat regularly for participation from folks who are less comfortable speaking up, and read ideas out loud. Share visuals in the online space, not in the room. I.e. leaving ideas in an online doc, rather than on chart paper. This includes note-taking on a shared online document! Encourage new members to contribute ideas using strategies that avoid calling them out if they aren't comfortable speaking yet, such as using an interactive powerpoint or allowing them to leave ideas in the chat that can be read out by the facilitator. Invite your attendees to regularly evaluate your meeting, share feedback and suggest tips to make your meeting work for you and your attendees.
Use a circle up tool to keep participation equal	1. Put all participants around one big virtual circle.  2. Mark a little check next to someone whenever they speak. You can also use a star or other symbol to track when each person shares during a specific activity. Have one person assigned to do this, and to let the facilitator know who deserves speaking time. See the example from Training for Change
Be mindful of participants who may not be able to see or hear or otherwise fully participate in virtual meetings.	*If an attendee is blind, you should use more descriptive language that paints a picture of what others are seeing and provides richer context. Some people use screen readers to access information. In this case, make sure your presentation has image descriptions and refrain from using images/GIFs with flashing lights as they can cause seizures, headaches, and migraines. If an attendee is deaf or hard of hearing, make sure you're using a platform that supports real-time closed captioning.

Closing Meetings

Hold a check out question, but try to keep it simple. For example, "what's one word you would use to describe how you're feeling after today's meeting?" Or, "share a compliment about 1 attendee present at today's meeting!" Send the notes and a meeting summary afterwards. Share the main items that were achieved, any major decisions or action items and a meeting recording if relevant. Provide a channel for follow up questions, suggestions or comments.

Creating Accessible Group Cultures

The following section drew from the writings of:  

• Liz Kessler, a person who describes themselves as disabled and who is involved in struggles for justice
• Lee, a disabled, queer, trans and autistic activist.
  

Suggestions for fostering accessible group cultures:

Work with different abilities and limits	Do not set standards for how hard, or how much, work should be completed. Workflow norms are tailored to some identities more than others. Check with people on what they need to be able to pause and ground themselves, and/or move forward. Last-minute disengagement related to personal conditions or situations is common! Value various forms of knowledge, i.e. other than academic knowledge (e.g. lived experience).
Incorporate regular discussions about personal and group boundaries	This allows each person to give their consent actively and enthusiastically, and promotes respect for these limits. Short term limits encourage long term sustainability.
Plan break times	Do not have meetings or tasks to complete during breaks. Commit the entire team to taking a break so no one feels excluded or singled out. When a person takes a break from activism, access to the support and social contact of the activist community encourages resilience.
Focus on content, rather than how something is said	Some people express ideas or comments using emotion, rather than using statements such as "I feel..." and "I think...". No matter how emotional the person is when sharing their ideas, what they have to say is of equal importance. Some people have trouble with eye contact, or need to fidget to maintain focus during a discussion. Focus on what they're sharing, not how they're sharing!
Uplift intersectional perspectives	Intersectional perspectives are those of people who experience more than one social identity limiting their accessibility to spaces. The people who are most often 'front and center' in our communities, and in our spaces, enjoy white privilege, attractiveness (or body) privilege, able-bodied privilege, and class. Have honest conversations about this in your group regularly.

Finally, accept that building accessible group cultures is a process. There is no set finish line. We have to stay tuned and pay attention to the people around us.

Accessibility in Media and Materials

There are many things to consider when it comes to accessible communication. It is important to ensure our written material is easy to read, easy to understand, and make it easy to find the information you need and use the first time you read it.

General Guidelines for Accessible Written Materials

Order, bolding and font	Put the most important information at the beginning, bolded, and include background information (when necessary) toward the end. Use bolding over underlining or italics. Use sans serif fonts, such as Arial and Comic Sans, as letters can appear less crowded. Alternatives include Verdana, Tahoma, Century Gothic, Trebuchet, Calibri, Open Sans. Font size should be at least 12-14 point.
Avoid jargon, abbreviations and technical terms	Keep your language as simple as possible (e.g. disseminate vs 'send', in accordance with vs 'by'). See more examples of simplifying your language here. If you are targeting the general public, a rule of thumb is to aim for an 8th grade reading level or lower. Check out the following resource which can be used to reduce the reading level of your writing.
Use as few words as possible	Limit paragraphs/written sections to 3-8 lines, 5 being a happy medium. Reduce wordy phrases like "a number of" to "some", and "in order to" to "to". Remove 'filler' words such as descriptive words that do not add to your main idea.
Break up the text	Break up written text with blank space, tables, lists, images or other ways of formatting. Blank space draws the eyes better to key written ideas. Images can help to illustrate text and keep it engaging. Add headings if they'll help break information up further Line spacing of 1.5 is preferable. Use left-alignment.
Use gender-neutral language	Avoid creating binaries such as "ladies and gentleman", "he/she said..." etc.
Use accessible colour choices	Choose contrasting colours. You can review your chosen colours to check if they meet colour blind requirements using this resource. Try not to use colours that are too bright as these can also be hard on the eyes and make reading difficult. Use single colour backgrounds. Pale or pastel backgrounds rather than stark white can be easier to read.
Web access	When a document is published online, make an HTML version available (the only universal format currently) Use the WAVE tool to test the accessibility of a website. Ensure that the options displayed with the mouse can also be displayed using only a keyboard.

Writing Image Descriptions

Most important elements to describe: The people and animals in an image. The background or setting of an image. The context of an image. For example, an image description of a congested highway would describe the packed cars. The colours of an image (don’t overdo it... a simple ‘light blue’ will do). Basic process for writing a description: Describe what the content is (e.g. a photo, educational graphic etc). Describe the Object-Action-Context.  Provide details. For example, the clothing and the position that people in an image are in. If the background is a simple colour, include it in the first sentence of the description. However if it is more complicated, such as a river winding through a dense forest, include that at the end of the description after describing the important elements.

Accessible Audio and Video

Add subtitles/captions

• Check out Accessible Social's step-by-step guide for adding captions/subtitles to videos!

Audio descriptions

• An audio description is a form of narration to support blind and low vision users.
• If audio descriptions are not available, written descriptions can be used. They are typically presented as written text that can be reviewed along with the video.See this example presenting the trailer for The Wheel of Time.  
• An option for making videos with audio descriptions to create two versions of your video, one with an audio description integrated with the rest of your video’s audio and one without. Below is an example of an audio description.

Further resources

• People's hub offers trainings organizers on creating culture of access if folks are interested in further learning on this topic, and also a peer support space for people with chronic illness/disability to meet online.

• Disability Justice is Climate Justice (Sins Invalid)-Article and ASL video

• Disability Rights is a Climate Justice Issue. Here’s Why (Leanne McNulty)-Article

• To Survive Climate Catastrophe, Look to Queer & Disabled Folks (YES! Magazine)-Article

• The Rights of People with Disabilities in Disasters & Public Health Emergencies (World Institute of Disability)- List of resources

If you have any suggested revisions or additional resources to share related to the above content, please email them to kenzie@lehub.ca.

Back to Homepage