Post: Accessible Communications

posts/2021-03-accessible-communication.md

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+---
+title: "Ideas for Accessible Communications"
+description: |
+    A summary of my response to my workplace's survey
+    on making communications more accessible.
+slug: accessible-communication
+date: 2021-03-20T15:43:47+00:00
+type: post
+tags:
+- Stuff
+- Accessibility
+- Ablism
+---
+
+The Disability Support Network at work
+recently ran a survey on "accessible communications",
+to develop guidance on how to make communications
+(especially internal staff comms)
+more accessible to everyone.
+I grabbed a copy of my submission
+because I thought it would be useful to share more widely,
+so here it is.
+Please note that these are based on my own experiences only.
+I am in no way suggesting
+that these are the only things you would need to do
+to ensure your communications are fully accessible.
+They're just some things to keep in mind.
+
+- - - - -
+
+Policies/procedures/guidance can be stressful to use
+if anything is vague or inconsistent,
+or if it looks like there might be more information implied
+than is explicitly given
+(a common cause of this is use of jargon in e.g. HR policies).
+Emails relating to these policies have similar problems,
+made worse because they tend to be very brief.
+
+Online meetings can be very helpful,
+but can also be exhausting,
+especially if there are too many people,
+or not enough structure.
+Larger meetings & webinars without agendas
+(or where the agenda is ignored,
+or timings are allowed to drift without acknowledgement)
+are very stressful,
+as are those where there is not enough structure
+to ensure fair opportunities to contribute.
+
+Written reference documents and communications should:
+
+- Be carefully checked for consistency and clarity
+- Have all all key points explicitly stated
+- Explicitly acknowledge the need for flexibility where it is necessary,
+  rather than implying or hinting at it
+- Clearly define jargon & acronyms
+  where they are necessary to the point being made,
+  and avoid them otherwise
+- Include links to longer, more explicit versions where space is tight
+- Provide clear bullet-point summaries with links to the details
+
+Online meetings should:
+
+- Include sufficient break time
+  (at least 10 minutes out of every hour)
+  and not allow this to be compromised
+  just because a speaker has misjudged the length of their talk
+- Include initial "settling-in" time in agendas
+  to avoid timing getting messed up from the start
+- Ensure the agenda is stuck to,
+  or that divergence from the agenda
+  is acknowledged explicitly by the chair
+  and updated timing briefly discussed to ensure everyone is clear
+- Establish a norm for participation at the start of the meeting
+  and stick to it
+  e.g. ask people to raise hands when they have a point to make,
+  or have specific time for round-robin contributions
+- Ensure quiet/introverted people have space to contribute,
+  but don't force them to do so
+  if they have nothing to add at the time
+- Offer a text-based alternative to contributing verbally
+- If appropriate,
+  at the start of the meeting
+  assign specific roles of:
+  - Gatekeeper: ensures everyone has a chance to contribute
+  - Timekeeper: ensures meeting runs to time
+  - Scribe: ensures a consistent record of the meeting
+- Be chaired by someone with the confidence to enforce the above:
+  offer training to all staff on chairing meetings
+  to ensure everyone has the skills
+  to run a meeting effectively
+
+