Tips for Being an Inclusive & Welcoming Organization

A welcoming organization values diversity and ensures everyone feels included and supported. This approach fosters belonging, reduces conflict, sparks innovation, improves decision-making, and strengthens community connections so that all can thrive.

1. Seek Input and Take Action

• Work with attendees who request assistance to participate.
  • Often, there are multiple ways to address a request.
  • Train staff to manage and accommodate requests.
• Share agenda and meeting materials early and offer to review materials before the meeting.
• Ask attendees if anyone needs anything (e.g. water, lighting or volume adjusted).
• Include speaker descriptions and pronouns as part of introductions.

2. Learn and Practice Proper Disability Etiquette

• Train staff how to interact with disabled people. Watch this short and entertaining video for helpful tips.
• Treat everyone with respect; do not patronize or talk down to people – presume competence.
• Speak directly to disabled people, not to their support staff.
• Hire people with disabilities to work with you.

3. Create Accessible Materials

• Follow these 10 Tips for Creating Accessible Content for best practices around color contrast, alt text, font size, hashtags and more.
• Use inclusive language and images. Refer to the Disability Language Guide for best practices.

4. Be Welcoming to All

• Ensure physical and digital accessibility.
• For larger events and upon request:
  • Clearly designate an accessible, convenient ADA section
  • Provide ASL interpretation
  • Provide CART captioning.
• If microphones are available, use them.
• Provide remote options when possible.