Creating safe, diverse, inclusive, and accessible communities.
As individuals, humans, people we thrive on the sense of belonging and the feeling of being a part of a community. However, unfortunately, not all communities are created equal. You know the ones where they fail to give all people a seat at the table or a voice, say they are about equality but you can’t see any diversity in their socials or imagery or better yet don’t learn how to speak to their audience to build trust and a listening ear. We aren’t about that life.
What we are about is creating safe, diverse, inclusive, and accessible (SDI&A) communities that support all members regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, or abilities is essential.
As a community manager, it is crucial to understand the importance of creating a welcoming environment that fosters a sense of belonging, safety, and equity for all members. In this post, we will delve into what a community manager/leader can do to contribute to building such a community. From understanding the meaning of diversity and inclusion to designing an accessible space, we will explore the key components of creating a safe and welcoming community.
Join us as we learn how to create a community that celebrates our differences and promotes a sense of belonging for all.
Let’s start with a quick exercise, ‘learning the four key elements for creating a safe and welcoming community.’
We are going to put you in the hot seat for a short minute.
Have you ever walked into a room and thought. ‘I don’t belong here?’.
Go back to that time and ask yourself.
What made you feel that way?
What did you need at the time to make you feel comfortable?
What could others in the room do to make you feel like you belonged?
Putting yourself in this situation or remembering an experience how did it make you feel?
This feeling, unfortunately, is felt too often by people who are from minority groups. Feeling lonely, isolated, frightened, scared, awkward and even crippled with anxiety.
This isn’t how people should feel when they enter a community. People should be welcomed and supported in all spaces. But we know this is not the case and a lot of work needs to be done to create more accessible communities.
How can you start by making your communities SDI&A? Four simple things;
👂Listen
📚Learn
🙋🏾Ask
👩🏽🏫Educate
What is a safe, diverse, inclusive and accessible community?
A safe, diverse, inclusive, and accessible community is a space where individuals from different backgrounds, identities, and abilities feel welcomed, respected, and valued. In such a community, everyone can participate and engage in activities and events without fear of discrimination, harassment, isolation or exclusion.
Do you feel confident that this is the case in your community?
A safe community ensures that individuals' physical and emotional well-being is prioritized, while a diverse community represents a range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities, From the neurodivergent, people with disabilities, chronic illness, gender, mental health, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and different cultural and ethnic groups. An inclusive community promotes equal access to resources and opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their identity or background. Lastly, an accessible community provides accommodations and support to individuals with accessibility needs to ensure that they can participate fully in community events and activities.
By creating a safe, diverse, inclusive, and accessible community, we can build a sense of belonging, trust and support that fosters mutual respect and understanding among its members.
We are all in this together.
We have created a guide below, which will explore in more detail the key elements of creating safe, diverse, inclusive, and accessible communities. It discusses how to make your community, events, content, and social media more inclusive and accessible, also with lots of tips and examples to support you in creating your own SDI&A community.
How to create a SDI&A community?
So how can you create a SDI&A community, I hear you ask?
Here we are going to chat about how you can implement SDI&A practises to your community spaces, social media, events and in your content. Community is not just about the private group or the space you operate in it is also about what you do externally on social media, at events and in your content that matters too.
So let’s dive in.
Community spaces
We hosted an Ask Me Anything Session for Community Leaders to ask questions on how they can make their communities SDI&A. Some questions that came from community leaders were:
‘How can you ensure the creation of a safe space?’ This question came from Mouna Matin, Senior Manager of Community Content at Booking.com And ‘How can we be more inclusive and create a sense of belonging?’ From Lara Sheldrake, Founder of Found and Flourish.
To answer these questions we discussed the importance of having a clear set of - guidelines, rules and FAQs as well as a smooth onboarding and welcoming process.
Let’s go into a deeper dive below into what this looks like.
Establishing clear community guidelines and values: Clear community guidelines and values establish what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. It helps ensure that all members of the community are aware of their responsibilities and obligations towards each other. The guidelines should explicitly state that any form of discrimination, harassment, or harmful behaviour will not be tolerated.
Encouraging respectful communication: Respectful communication fosters an environment where people feel safe to express their views, ask questions, and engage in productive discussions. Encourage members to use language that is inclusive, respectful, and free from derogatory remarks.
Celebrating diversity: It is crucial to celebrate diversity and actively create opportunities for individuals to share their culture, traditions, and experiences. Organizing events, campaigns and activities that celebrate cultural diversity help create a sense of belonging for individuals from different backgrounds.
Providing accommodations for individuals with disabilities: A community must provide accommodations to individuals with disabilities to ensure they can participate fully in community events and activities. Accommodations may include wheelchair ramps, audio and visual aids, and closed captioning. In your community spaces you can incourage the use of The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Just like we would share our pronouns you can encourage your community members to add a Sunflower to their name or bio.. This leads us to our next point!
Don’t Assume Ask: Everybody's needs are different. The way we handle situations is different. How our mind works is complex. People can contribute in many wonderful ways. So how do we get the best out of our communities? Ask people what their communication preference is. Do they prefer to write questions down in a forum as opposed to speaking on a video call? How do they like to brainstorm? Through art or maybe through an excel spreadsheet? In what way do they best receive information? Do they need any extra support with hearing/visualisation?
Another question we got was from Amanda Tonna, Storyteller ‘With communities that empower women, sometimes it is unclear if and how non-binary people could get involved. Could you give us some tips on how to enter such sensitive conversations to handle this topic with all the members?’
Create communities within a community - Creating communities for minority groups in your community is a great way to support them in feeling safe in your community. They can feel a part of the broader community while having a safe space to talk about their interests and experiences with like-minded people. For example, we created a group for mums and mums to be in a community we run, encouraging conversations about topics around becoming a mum and running a business as well as safeguarding some of the community who might be triggered by pregnancy stories. Fertility Matters at Work, explain this perfectly in this Instagram post. They say ‘Shame dies when stories are told in safe spaces’, leading on to explain [creating safe spaces] This often leads to what we call a ‘domino effect’, with others feeling more comfortable to share their stories too.
Highlight your pronouns. And allow and encourage others to share theirs. Whether this is in your email signature or on internal communication platforms, normalising pronouns will normalise them in your community. Read about why using pronouns is important here.
In a recent LinkedIn post, we posted Sarah Massey, (she/her) a marketer and writer who wants workplaces to be LGBTQ+ inclusive commented that it is ‘Super important to me as a queer person is that everyone at work share pronouns and not assumes someone’s gender. If a person doesn’t know another person’s gender, learn their name and refer to them that way. This helps me learn people’s names faster.’
Learn correct terms. It’s important to identify people correctly. There’s not a one-fits-all here. Learn the correct terms for minority groups, for example, LGBTQIA+ and know the difference between various race and ethnicity groups. For example, instead of ‘Asian’, be more specific - South Asian, South East Asian, East Asian etc. Do the research or ask if you’re unsure.
Social Media
Most people use social media, but are you using it to include everyone and keeo them safe? To ensure you’re doing the basics when it comes to communicating inclusively, here are some things to remember;
Provide descriptive image captions for your images. You can see how we do it here on our Instagram. It helps those who are visually impaired to know what the image or digital asset has on it.
An article on Sladeteam states “Over 5% of the world’s population (430 million people) require some form of aid or rehabilitation for their hearing”. When using audio voiceovers or video recordings, also use captions.
Use #CamelCase for hashtags. Add a capital letter for each word - for example #DiversityAndInclusion.
Using images? Use imagery and create content that includes minority groups. Representation is crucial. Avoid stock images and invest in professional photography to capture the true sense of your community.
Add a trigger warning to content that might be triggering for some. You can add a trigger warning for types of content around health issues, pregnancy loss, mental health, harassment and violence. But Also on flashing images or loud sounds. In general, it's a good practice to add a trigger warning to content if you believe it has the potential to cause distress or trigger traumatic memories for some individuals. Here is an example we found on Instagram by Mother Pukker, who added a trigger warning to this post on sexual harassment. #TriggerWarning.
IRL & Online events
We’ve pretty much recovered from the phase of zoom-only events. We’re back face-to-face, people and it’s great. But what can we do to include all those on the invitee list?
Claudia founder of CoPartnerUp asked - How can we organise inclusive events and activities?
Let’s start with the Where?
Where are you hosting the in-person event? Make sure the location is accessible and that stations near you are disability friendly. You’re able to see which London stations have step-free access here.
Some questions to consider when organising an event -
What does the journey to your venue look like?
Are there accessible parking facilities on site?
Make sure you find this information out. You don't want any member of your community disappointed and unable to attend.
So we’ve covered getting to the venue, but what about the venue itself?
Again, accessibility in the building is vital. Find out if the location has a ramp/lift and disabled/all-gendered toilets. Do they have a hearing loop integration in the building? If you’re unable to find this information on their website, give them a quick call or email to ask about accessibility in and around the building.
What’s on the menu? If you’re organising catering, find out if there are any dietary requirements for those attending. Is somebody Halal? Coeliac? Fasting? And you should always aim to have vegetarian and vegan options available. (There are some wonderful caterers out there offering great selections). It’s a wise idea to ask about allergies and food requirements when sending out invites so you have time to research the best places to cover all the bases. Eatfirst has put together a list of the ultimate dietary requirements.
Avoid loud music and flashing lights. Events on and offline can be overwhelming at the best of times and trigger sensory issues for some individuals.
Use lighting that is appropriate for the setting: Bright, flashing, or rapidly changing lighting can cause sensory overload for some individuals, which may lead to discomfort, anxiety, or physical symptoms. Consider using soft, ambient lighting that is suitable for the event's atmosphere.
Lower the volume of the music: keep the volume at a comfortable level and avoid sudden changes in volume or bass-heavy music.
Provide designated quiet spaces: Some attendees may need a break from the noise and crowds to recharge or relax. Consider setting up designated quiet spaces or green rooms where individuals can retreat to take a break.
Consider your communication method. Think about how you are giving instructions, demonstrations or talks during your event. If you plan on verbally directing people on where to go and what to do during your event, will you be communicating in a way that people with hearing or other disabilities can understand easily? Are you able to work with an ASL interpreter to translate any verbal communication?
If you’re unsure about any of the above, ask your community if they have any accessibility requirements. This will ensure all members of your community can access your event so you can make arrangements in advance.
Similar to IRL events, preparation is key when organising an online event. Before the event (or on the invitation) find out who in your community has accessibility needs or specific ways of working. This will build trust that you’re committed to creating a safe space for your community and any interactive sessions.
It is as simple as asking on your event sign-up form ‘Do you have any accessibility needs?’
Here are some tips and feedback we’ve received after asking these questions:
For workshops: Provide a blackout room if you break out into groups during a call. Some people won’t want to participate and just the thought of it may trigger anxiety. Therefore, if someone does not want to participate, they can jump into that room and switch off while you break out.
Showing up online can be really stressful for some so remember It is ok for them not to have their camera on.
Be 100% transparent. Provide all the details in advance so they can prepare, know exactly what to expect from the session and have the energy to attend. And if there are any changes to the workshop or course, provide details in advance. Don’t spring this upon your community randomly or at short notice.
Wear natural colours and avoid patterns. Have a read of neurodiverse-friendly palettes here.
Lastly, we have content…
Content
From your newsletters, blog posts handout sheets, event invitations, directions and instructions, the content you use must be inclusive. There are things you can do to make them more accessible.
Use straightforward language and make sure all will understand. Use English in its simplest form, avoid jargon and acronyms and keep the text short. Avoid language that reinforces stereotypes or discriminatory attitudes. Use a clear and simple writing style, and break up long blocks of text. This helps to ensure that content is readable and accessible to a wide range of readers, including those with cognitive or literacy challenges.
Provide alternative formats for readers who may have difficulty accessing content, such as audio or video transcripts, podcast format, large print, or braille. This ensures that readers with disabilities can access the content and engage with it on equal terms. A simple layout for a blog post can be to have it in written format but also provide audio and video with captions.
Use images, opinions and stories that represent a diverse range of identities and experiences. This includes people from different races, genders, ages, and abilities.
Incorporate accessibility features into your website or content, such as closed captioning for videos, alt-text for images, and descriptive headers. This helps to ensure that readers with disabilities can access the content and engage with it on equal terms. For more tips Hubspot has a guide on making your website accessible and here is a platform called UserWay that does just this.
In this guide, we explored the key elements of creating safe, diverse, inclusive, and accessible communities. We've discussed how to make events, content, and online spaces more inclusive and accessible, and we've provided tips for creating content that is engaging and accessible to a wide range of readers.
There is a lot of work still to be done.
It's important to remember that creating safe, diverse, inclusive, and accessible communities requires ongoing effort and that we must continually evaluate and improve our approaches. We are still learning ourselves and we hope the piece grows with more content to help you create a community with a sense of belonging.
By working together to promote inclusivity and accessibility, we can help to create a world that is more welcoming and supportive for everyone. Let's continue to prioritize inclusivity and create a brighter future for all.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to create a sense of belonging in your community, contact Sense and Forum.