When we focus on accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities we make the situation better for everyone.

The more I am involved in meetings with people with deafblindness, the more I am struck by how much more respectful and inclusive they are by necessity.

There are three key features of these meetings which improve flow and inclusion, allowing an opportunity for all perspectives of those present to be raised.

1. Only one message at a time. Typically meetings with people with deafblindness require the involvement of sign language interpreters. As only one message can be interpreted at a time, only one person can hold the floor. Others cannot speak over the speaker or interject, as this cannot be interpreted simultaneously. This is in contrast to meetings in which everyone communicates orally / aurally and the loudest, most dominant voices from the most assertive participants are heard.
2. Indicate you have something to contribute. As a direct consequence of there being only one message at a time. If attendees have something they wish to contribute they must raise their hand to get the attention of the chair to indicate they wish to speak. It is the chairs responsibility to keep track of the order in which hands were raised, and acknowledge and indicate the order of speakers once the last speaker has finished their message.
3. Check in with those who have not contributed. For those accessing the meeting using an interpreter or other communication support, there is a lag between the message being conveyed and the message being converted and then received. For this reason, attendees accessing the meeting via communication support typically have less opportunity to contribute or raise their hand as they are fully occupied catching up with the preceding messages. For this reason it is important to pause, allow all participants times to catch up and ask directly if they have any questions or comments to make or if they require a break. While many meetings do not have attendees who have communication access support needs, there is still value in checking in on all attendees to see if they have anything they would like to add.

Research is required to check the assertions I’m about to make, but from my personal experience and observations, needing to indicate when you want to speak:

• gives you time to decide if what you want to contribute is really worthwhile
• gives you time to get your message concise and to the point
• allows people who are less assertive and may not otherwise have the opportunity to contribute, to have equal access to the chair person to give their perspective.
• increases diversity of perspectives resulting in outcomes and actions which are more holistic and sustainable

Certainly skill in chairing the meeting is required to ensure all those who want to contribute get the opportunity to do so, and that the meeting still progresses to cover all agenda items in the time allocated, but I have observed these slower paced meetings to be at least as productive if not more so, than those where more talking is done.

Try these three simple strategies and let me know how your meetings change.

For detailed guidelines on ensuring an accessible and inclusive face to face meeting with people with deafblindness, see here.

For detailed guidelines on ensuring accessible and inclusive online meetings with people with deafblindness see here